Children with intellectual disabilities got a chance to play soccer in front of hundreds of spectators gathered in Matthews on Wednesday. Ahead of the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, the Special Olympics Unified Sports MLS All-Star Game provided an inclusive platform for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together.
Among the participants was Jack Sullivan, 20, who said his love of soccer came from watching his family play. "My siblings play soccer, and I just like playing,," Sullivan said. "I'm an outdoors man. I like being outside."
The game marked the 11th annual Special Olympics Unified Sports MLS All-Star Game.
"It’s really about the teamwork," said Jan Mirman, senior vice president of community engagement for Major League Soccer. "It’s about the inclusion, and it’s really about highlighting the ability of these players."
The game took place as Charlotte prepares to host the professional MLS All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium for the first time tonight at 8 p.m.. The MLS All-Stars will face Mexico’s LIGA MX All-Stars.
Sharma Egner, of South Carolina, attended the Special Olympics game with her grandchildren and said the event underscored the importance of giving everyone the opportunity to be involved in sports.
"Everybody's created equal, and they need to play equally together," Egner said. "They need to get out and play.”
