University of Richmond Athletics
Football Continues Long-Standing Partnership With Special Olympics
June 8, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - For the 13th consecutive year, players and staff from the University of Richmond football team volunteered at the Virginia Special Olympics. Thirty members of the Spiders' team were on-hand through the weekend and first-year head coach Mike London addressed the athletes and fans at the Opening Ceremony Friday night at the Robins Center.
The Spider football team's participation at the event was started by former head coach Jim Reid and carried on by London.
The Spiders helped organize the Opening Ceremony and served as volunteers at the power lifting event, held inside the Robins Center. The outdoor events were contested at First Market Stadium, but cut short due to Saturday's record heat in the Capital City.
Many of the Spiders were on-hand late Friday night, helping transition the Robins Center following the Opening Ceremony and returned early Saturday morning for the start of the events.
The Summer Games is the largest state-wide event put on by Special Olympics Virginia and includes the events of power lifting, bowling, softball, swimming, tennis and track & field. Nearly 1,500 athletes converged on Richmond this weekend.