Community Bank N.A. Presents Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games

Community Bank N.A. presents the 2017 Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games December 10 at St. Michael’s College and Spare Times Lanes in Colchester. Nearly 500 athletes and Unified partners will compete in swimming, floorball, and bowling.

“We are very excited to be the presenting sponsor of the first ever Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games” says Anita Bourgeois, Community Bank N.A. New England Regional Manager. “We are thrilled to grow our partnership with Special Olympics Vermont and support people with intellectual disabilities and their families across the state.”

Special Olympics Vermont has reorganized its sports seasons to provide more high-quality sports training and competition opportunities to more athletes. The thirteen Olympic-type sports offered are now organized into four distinct sports seasons: Winter, Summer, Fall, and Holiday Games. This Sunday will be the first annual Holiday Games.

For all statewide competitions, teams travel from thirteen Vermont counties for the opportunity to compete in a statewide tournament against the best athletes in each division.

Special Olympics Vermont will debut Floorball at Holiday Games. This versatile indoor team sport is played in a rink with three field players plus a goalie on each team. Players use a plastic hockey stick to guide a light ball up and down the court. Floorball is also one of many Special Olympics Unified sports which means teammates with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together.

Holiday Games begins early Sunday morning with competition at each venue. A brief welcome address and the awards ceremony will take place at St. Michael’s College following competition.

A large team of Community Bank N.A. volunteers will assist with the bowling venue. “Our partnership with Community Bank N.A. allows Special Olympics Vermont to offer a high-quality competition experience for our athletes,” says Justin Graham, Program Director for Special Olympics Vermont. “We look forward to working with their staff to put on a memorable event.”

Additional volunteer opportunities for the 2017 Holiday Games, more information, and to register to volunteer, visit the Special Olympics Vermont website.