The Adelaide Football Club and AFLW co-captain Erin Phillips are supporting Special Olympics Australia ahead of the National Games which are being held in Adelaide from Monday, April 16.
Six athletes with intellectual disabilities, all passionate Crows fans, will be part of the Guard of Honour for the Club’s game against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Those taking part include:
Paula Morrissy – Athletics
Donna Alexander – Tenpin Bowling
Rachel Fenwick – Tenpin Bowling
Adrian Langford – Swimming
Sarah Thorman – Basketball
Charlie Wilkins – Swimming
The initiative has been organised by the Crows Children’s Foundation which is supported by Variety – the Children’s Charity, which also supported each of these athletes on their sporting journeys.
Ahead of Friday night’s clash the Law Enforcement Torch Run will also be escorted out onto the ground by swimmer Charlie Wilkins and policeman Michael Klose.
The torch has travelled the country and this week crossed the border at Mildura and has travelled through Whyalla, Port Pirie, Clare and Victor Harbor.
The cauldron will be lit to officially commence the opening of the games at Government House on Monday.
In addition, 32-year-old Phillips has donated new sporting gear, collected over many years as a professional basketballer, for athletes to use or to be auctioned for funds to assist Special Olympics Australia.
Phillips last week met basketballer Amy Howard who has been the Special Olympics Australian Female Athlete of the Year and was the first South Australian to be selected for the Australian Pearls basketball team in 20 years.
Combining the transformative power of sport with a holistic approach to athlete wellbeing, Special Olympics Australia creates accessible sports training, coaching and competition opportunities so that people with an intellectual disability can reach their personal best, in sport and in life.
The organisation supports more than 3,100 athletes and 5,200 scholars in 59 accredited programs nationwide, catering for people of all ages, all abilities and at all levels of competition.
The Special Olympics Australia National Games 2018 will be held in Adelaide from Monday 16 April to Friday 20 April 2018 and will involve 1,000 athletes with an intellectual disability competing in 11 sports.
For further information visit http://www.specialolympics.com.au/
