Release

Media Advisory and Photo Op: UAlbany Head Coach Will Brown Leads Basketball Clinic for Special Olympians

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 26, 2006)

What:
The Special Olympics New York Summer Games are returning to UAlbany, and the Danes help kick off the excitement with a special hour-long basketball clinic with Head Coach Will Brown. Forty Special Olympic basketball players from the Capital District and surrounding counties will experience shooting, passing, and ball-handling drills all culminating in a 15-minute scrimmage with instruction and encouragement from UAlbany's intercollegiate coaches and players.

Who:
Kermit L. Hall, president, University at Albany
Bill Collins, director of outreach programs, Special Olympics New York, Capital District Chapter
Will Brown, UAlbany head men's basketball coach
Eric Eaton, UAlbany associate head men's basketball coach
Chad E. O'Donnell, UAlbany assistant coach
Jeremy M. Friel, UAlbany director of basketball operations

Forty Special Olympians from the following areas: Capital District Devil Dogs, Greene County Titans, Saratoga Springers, and the Schenectady Patriots.

When:
Thursday, June 1, 2006, 6-7 p.m.

Where:
Recreation and Convocation Center (RACC) gymnasium, UAlbany uptown campus, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y.
For directions visit Athletic Facilities & Directions.

Background:
The UAlbany Great Danes know the meaning of the phrase, "Why not us?" As America East Conference Champs, they entered their first NCAA tournament a 16-seeded underdog to #1 seed University of Connecticut, but commanded the game for all but the last few minutes. On June 1, they share that experience with forty Special Olympic athletes as they inspire them to their own shot at victory in the 2006 Special Olympics New York Summer Games.

Head Coach Will Brown leads a team of UAlbany coaches and players who will teach, guide, inspire, and share as they volunteer an hour of their time devoted to the techniques of shooting, passing, and ball handling through rotating stations. Then, the four teams will compete in a mini scrimmage under the auspices and mentoring of Coach Brown and the evening will conclude with the presentation of a special commemorative gift to the athletes.

The 2006 Special Olympics New York Summer Games at UAlbany are especially important because gold medalists in many events will qualify to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai in October 2007. As of 2005, one-quarter of Special Olympics global participants—a total of 500,000 athletes—were Chinese, underscoring the importance of the Special Olympics movement to China, and of bringing the Games to their country.

Special Olympics New York is the largest program of its type in the United States, serving nearly 40,000 athletes with the support of over 30,000 volunteers. More than 2,000 athletes and coaches will be participating in the 2006 Summer Games, June 15 through 18. In addition to basketball, Olympic-style competitions will be held in aquatics, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, track and field, tennis, and volleyball.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. Through year-round sports training, athletic competition and related programming for more than 1.3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics International has created a model that celebrates people's diverse abilities and develops individuals' full potential. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. For more information visit Special Olympics New York.