Students unite with disabled athletes for soccer tournament hosted by Special Olympics
Last month, four Seattle Central students competed alongside three youth with disabilities against teams from 15 area colleges at the first ever College Unified Soccer Invitational at Seattle University. The tournament was hosted by a Special Olympics program called Project UNIFY, which brings together youth with and without disabilities to play team sports and ultimately form respectful communities that advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.
Student organizer and team coach Kelly Thadeus recruited soccer club members Simbarashe Masango, Abdoulaye Konate and Tapiwa Chabikwa to serve as partners to three young athletes with intellectual disabilities. The team took second place in its division, an impressive result since the team, which calls itself the “Broadway Kings,” could only practice three times before the tournament.
At an all-day summit, the students learned about issues that people with disabilities face and ways to create inclusive and respectful communities. For Simbarashe, Abdoulaye and Tapiwa, participating in the tournament offered them their first experience working with people with disabilities.
Two of the athletes with disabilities had competed in Unified tournaments in high school and the April college tournament offered them the opportunity to continue with these tournaments after they had graduated. Kelly is now working to start a club on campus in hopes of participating in more Unified Sports tournaments in the future.
“The best part about these unified tournaments is that everyone is treated as equal regardless of ability,” Kelly said. “It’s about setting goals for people and expecting that they are capable of achieving them as long as they have the desire to do so.”