Unified Sports Experience – FACT SHEET What are Unified Sports Experiences? Special Olympics Unified Sports® Experiences (USE) bring together Special Olympics athletes, professional and Olympic athletes, dignitaries and celebrities for participation in a competitive environment. The purpose of this event is to showcase the talents and abilities of Special Olympics athletes, while simultaneously providing an opportunity to raise much-needed awareness and funds for Special Olympics Programs. Inspired by Unified Sports®, Unified Sports Experiences will provide a memorable opportunity for the athletes and guests to spotlight the importance of inclusion, sportsmanship, and friendship to the rest of the world. This first-hand experience aims to change perceptions and break down barriers for people with intellectual disabilities, by uniting people in the joy of competition. What are the experiences? During the course of the World Summer Games, 16 Unified Sports Experiences will take place. These events include races, relays, tournaments, and team competitions. July 26 Schedule of events with venue and time in parenthesis July 30 Triathlon* (Long Beach: 8:00 – 11:00) Sailing (Long Beach: 14:00 -18:00) [part of competition] Tennis (UCLA: 17:30 – 19:30) Softball (Easton Stadium: 17:00 – 19:00) Volleyball (UCLA: 13:45 -14:45) July 27 Golf (Griffith Park: 13:00 – 16:30) Badminton (LACC J&K-14:00 – 16:00) Bocce (LACC K-18:00 – 20:00) Basketball (USC: 15:00-17:00) July 28 July 31 Table Tennis* (LACC J: 19:00–21:00) August 1 Half Marathon* (Long Beach: 8:00 – 11:00) [part of competition] Football 5-A-Side (UCLA: 16:00-18:00) July 29 Roller Skating (LACC H: 15:30 – 17:30) Bowling (LA Live: 13:00 – 15:00) Beach Volleyball (Long Beach: 18:00–20:00) Kayaking (Long Beach: 13:00 – 15:00) *All Times are in Pacific Standard Time Who is competing? Unified Sports Experiences participants include Special Olympics athletes, former Olympic and professional athletes, corporate executives, youth leaders, volunteers, Special Olympics coaches, and fans from the crowd. (Photos below from the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens)