Niagara University Set to Host 2024 Special Olympics Regional Basketball Tournament

Niagara University's Kiernan Recreation Center will welcome more than 200 Special Olympians and their families on April 27 as the host of the Special Olympics New York's Western Regional Basketball Tournament. The event begins with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and concludes with team and skills awards.

"I am very humbled and proud to partner with Special Olympics New York and other Western New York community members to provide our athletes with opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with each other and the community," said Dr. Dennis Garland, associate professor of education, who teaches the course. "Not only does this experience align with the university's mission to inspire our students to serve all members of society, but it also provides them with opportunities that lead to career pathways in education, the non-profit sector and sport management."

Niagara University has hosted this tournament since 2006, when Dr. Chandra Foote, dean of the College of Education, developed the Special Olympics: Games and Event Management course, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the colleges of Education and Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management. Students in the course learn about the nature of children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and train them to compete in the tournament in preparation to plan and host the competition, which is the culminating experience for the course.

Various Niagara University academic and athletic sectors and a variety of student clubs and organizations will be involved, as well.

Special Olympics is an international organization with a mission to help people with developmental and intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society. Athletes are offered a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and to increase the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs.