Special Olympics Massachusetts Holds Mid-summer Tournament This Weekend

Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA), which has its headquarters in Marlborough, will be hosting its 2011 mid-summer tournament Aug. 13 and 14. Tournament sports will include fishing, cycling, golf, softball, and bocce. Host venues are located in Western Massachusetts this year and include Nonotuck Park, Easthampton; Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown; Blunt Park, Springfield; Westover Golf Course, Granby; Wyckoff Country Club, Holyoke and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

According to SOMA President & CEO Robert Johnson, planning has been underway for this event for months.  “Our coaches are the best-trained, most dedicated people in all of Special Olympics. They deserve the utmost appreciation and respect. Teamwork is what this event is all about both on the field and off. Obviously, our sports teams are the focus of everything that we do.”

The Games Management Team is lead by SOMA veteran volunteer, Jon Samel who works together with the SOMA Sports Department to plan and execute this outstanding event.

Volunteers play key role in this tournament. They cook and serve the food, keep score, officiate, move and set up equipment, skipper the fishing boats and support the athletes in every way. Their reward? Seeing a smile on an athlete’s face or the pride in a family member’s heart.