A new esports partnership has kicked off with Mission Control and Special Olympics New York and Oregon that will allow athletes to continue to compete online.
Mission Control, which is a recreational gaming platform that allows various organizations to compete safely in online leagues, has partnered Special Olympics New York and Oregon to create an online Rocket League tournament that kicked off last week and will continue throughout the summer.
Games consist of 1v1 and 2v2 matches, with an overarching goal of featuring social inclusion, friendship, and understanding - all of which fall within the values and ideals of Special Olympics Unified Sports, which promotes “people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.“
Excitement surrounding the partnership is apparent, and should only grow as the event continues on throughout the summer.
“Our mission is to gather and grow communities. Through this integration, we’re thrilled to be able to provide an accessible opportunity for Special Olympics Unified Sports athletes to build interpersonal relationships and thrive together through shared passions for gaming and healthy competition,” stated CEO and founder of Mission Control, Austin Smith.
Stacey Hengsterman, President & CEO of Special Olympics New York, echoed that sentiment, stating, “Our athletes cannot wait to jump into the esports world of competition, and we are proud to deliver them the opportunity in partnership with Mission Control, a company at the top of its game. Rocket League is going to bring our Unified Sports program to the next level, not only now while athletes are unable to compete in person but for the long-term. I can see this growing into a powerful new way for our athletes to stay connected with one another in the off-seasons for years to come.”
Online tournaments put on by various Special Olympics state chapters are starting to heat up around the nation, with Special Olympics Colorado having recently put on a Unified Rocket League tournament earlier this month. It’s great that these types of competitions are being put on, especially since right now, athletes aren’t really able to participate in the in-person sporting events they normally would.
Source: Mission Control/Special Olympics
