Old Dominion Athletic Conference Partners With Special Olympics Virginia
FOREST, Va. - The Old Dominion Athletic
Conference (ODAC) and Special Olympics Virginia (SOVA) entered into
an official partnership following a meeting of the league’s
Board of Directors last week. The affiliation between the two
organizations is part of a NCAA Division III initiative that was
put into place by the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee at the NCAA Convention in January.
“From the moment the NCAA Announced the Division III
SAAC initiative with Special Olympics, I knew this was a great
opportunity,” explained ODAC Commissioner Brad
Bankston. “Our missions are similar and
what better way to give back to the community than integrating with
Special Olympics.”
Special Olympics Virginia serves more than 10,000 athletes through
seven regional offices and 29 area programs. SOVA is one of
52 U.S. programs, and part of a global movement that serves three
million athletes in more than 180 countries.
Click
to visit the Special Olympics Virginia website
The ODAC’s coverage of the Commonwealth is just as
expansive. Twelve of the conference’s 13 full-time
members span from the southwestern corner of the state up to
Harrisonburg and across to the east coast. The inclusion of
Shenandoah University for the 2012-13 academic year increases the
ODAC’s Virginia footprint.
“Our membership provides a unique opportunity to partner
with Special Olympics Virginia, covering every corner of the
state,” added Commissioner Bankston.
Several of the league’s schools already participate in
events with SOVA. From track meets at Lynchburg College and
swimming and basketball events at Virginia Wesleyan College to an
invitation to the men’s basketball year-end banquet at
Eastern Mennonite University, the benefit of the ODAC’s
involvement with SOVA is evident. The official partnership
between the ODAC and SOVA will help strengthen current
relationships and build new opportunities throughout the state.
“Special Olympics Virginia and the Old Dominion Athletic
Conference are doing the exact same thing every single day; using
sports as a vehicle to make all of us more than we were
before,” said Rick Jeffrey, President
of SOVA. “SOVA and ODAC athletes play for the joy
of the sport, the love of the game, the development of the
self. I cannot wait to see how our Special Olympics athletes
benefit from the interaction with the great players in the
ODAC. I also believe the ODAC players will learn a
‘little something’ too.”
The Division III SAAC began exploring a national
community-outreach initiative during its meetings in November 2008
and January 2009. SAAC members sought input from institutional and
conference SAACs before making a recommendation. To
facilitate the effort with Special Olympics, the Division III SAAC
will establish a subcommittee to work with conferences to
coordinate at least one conference SAAC activity with Special
Olympics during the academic year.
The ODAC’s experience with Special Olympics Virginia took
its first steps at the 2011 NCAA Division III Men’s
Basketball Championship in Salem, Va. A co-sponsor in the
event, the ODAC was part of the planning group that included SOVA
athletes in several activities, including exhibition games,
surrounding the national semifinals and the Reese’s All-Star
Game.
“This partnership is a natural fit and something I
expect our student-athletes to cherish for years to
come,” said Commissioner Bankston.
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