Euroleague Basketball announces Special Olympics games

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that its clubs, players, coaches and referees will again show their dedication and collaboration with disabled athletes by actively supporting Special Olympics with on-court promotions during 24 games over the next two weeks. This marks the second season in a row that Euroleague Basketball will partner with Special Olympics in its on-going campaign to promote participation in basketball among its members. Special Olympics is the world's largest year-round sports training programme for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is aiming to increase the number of basketball players in Europe and Eurasia from 53,000 to 56,000 in 2011 as well as to recruit 300 new volunteer coaches. The Special Olympics games, which form part of the Euroleague's Regular Season phase, will begin on Wednesday, November 23 and continue through Thursday, November 24.

All the Euroleague games played between those dates will feature a concerted effort to promote respect, acceptance and inclusion for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Euroleague players will warm up for each game wearing shirts and red laces with the Special Olympics logo, while team captains will speak to the home fans just before each opening tip-off. At some of these games, fans will have the opportunity to support Special Olympics through its Wear the Laces campaign. Special Olympics volunteers will be selling laces before, during and after some of the games and all proceeds from those sales will go to Special Olympics.