SportsCombine.com is proud to partner with Special Olympics Virginia. We covered the Special Olympics basketball tournaments Sunday, February 11, 2001.

Special Olympics Virginia serves over 2,800 athletes in Northern Virginia with mental retardation. Special Olympics offers training and competition in 15 sports. It does not charge fees to participate in its programs. All funds are raised locally.

On February 11, the local chapter of the Special Olympics hosted an invitational basketball tournament. Over 400 athletes competed in individual skills competition, full court and half court games. The competition was held at Edison High School and Twain Middle School in the Alexandria area of Fairfax Count. Athletes traveled from the Fredericksburg, Prince William and Loudoun County areas to challenge the Special Olympians from Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria.

Volunteers from the Delta Theta Phi Fraternity at the Catholic University School of Law and the Cardinal Referee Association helped manage the event.

For additional information concerning the Special Olympics tournaments, becoming a volunteer for Special Olympics, or the Special Olympics in general, please contact Pat Hammeke at 703-426-5601, 1-800-526-6131 or TPHSOVA@aol.com.

Schedule:

Edison High School

Full court games: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Twain Middle School

Full court games: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (main gym)
Half court games: 9:00 a.m. – Noon (main gym)
Skills competition: 9:00 a.m. – Noon (auxiliary gym)

Directions:

Edison High School

Take the Washington Beltway (Route 495) to Van Dorn Street. Take Van Dorn Street (route 613) South towards Franconia. Turn left on Franconia Road (route 644). Turn right into first entrance into the school complex. Gym entrance is in the back right side of the school. There will be a Special Olympics banner at entrance.

Twain Middle School

Take the Washington Beltway (Route 495) to Van Dorn Street. Take Van Dorn Street (route 613) South towards Franconia. Turn left on Franconia Road (route 644). Twain Middle School will be approximately 2 miles on the left. Take the 2nd entrance into the school. The gym entrance will be on the back right side of the school. There will be a Special Olympics banner at the entrance.