August Tournament

Nearly 1,200 athletes and coaches converge in and around Amherst in August for Special Olympics Massachusetts’ annual August Tournament. The dates for the 2012 August Tournament are Saturday, August 11th and Sunday, August 12th.  The event draws athletes from across the state to compete in bocce, softball, golf, cycling and fishing.

The main focus of the August Tournament is "Unified Sports", a Special Olympics initiative that started in Massachusetts. The program combines equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities ("Unified Partners") as teammates. Although the Unified Sports program began locally, today it is a global initiative in over 120 countries. The Unified Sports program is a great example of the successful steps Special Olympics continues to make in bringing integration, inclusion and friendships to those with intellectual disabilities.