Emily Young
Learn about the importance of sports and leisure activities when Michigan State University holds its first annual Adapted Sports Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2005!
The Adapted Sports Festival is an innovative idea created by a group of Michigan State University and community representatives to promote awareness of recreational and leisure activities for persons with disabilities. This one-day event will highlight adapted sports such as Bocce Ball (Boccia), Wheelchair Hockey (Floor), Goalball, Hand-cycling, Power Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Weight Training and Wheelchair Basketball. There is no cost to observe the adapted sports clinics!
Located right in the heart of Michigan State University's beautiful campus, the festival will be held at IM Sports West and Demonstration Hall and runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sign-in begins at 7:30 am. Free parking will be available in lot 62 West (just north of IM Sports West) and the Bessey Hall Ramp.
The festival is divided into four different time slots with a break mid-day for lunch. Each sport clinic includes a detailed demonstration and will be repeated at least once in a later time slot. Experts, Coaches and Olympians from the adapted sports fields will lead each session!
With a pre-paid $10 participation fee ($5 for MSU students), participants will actively experience at least two sports of their choosing in the hands-on portion of each clinic. The fee includes breakfast, a boxed lunch, a festival t-shirt as well as an active, fun filled day learning about adapted sports. For those unable to afford the $10 participation fee, scholarships are available. However, the number of paid participant slots is limited and pre-registration is required. Throughout the day, helpful volunteers will be available to assist participants and attendees.
Vendors will also be present during the festival to inform the disability community and related audiences about products and services relevant to adapted sports and leisure activities. The vendors section will include a variety of local and statewide organizations and companies.
\The goal of the festival is to raise awareness among the growing population of persons with disabilities both at MSU as well as within the State of Michigan", stated John Pedraza, a member of the festival planning committee. "The Adapted Sports Festival will allow persons both with and without disabilities to explore the recreational activities that are available and to learn more about the benefits of exercise"!
The festival is open to all levels from beginner to advanced and persons with disabilities of all ages. Family members and friends, professionals working in the disability community, plus MSU faculty, staff and students, are encouraged to attend!
Funding for the festival was made possible by the "Creating a More Diverse and Connected Community" grant awarded by the Michigan State University Office of the Provost, in-kind help by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) and other University departments, plus the generous donations and sponsorship by numerous non-profit organizations and the business community.
For more information and registration forms please visit the MSU Adapted Sports Festival website at http://www.msu.edu/~pedrazaj/adaptedsports2005/index.html.