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With the omicron variant of COVID-19 still posing a threat, the Special Olympics have made adjustments to how some athletes compete.
With 500 athletes set to compete and 200 in the floor hockey sport alone, Special Olympics is now allowing some virtual submissions.
Every Wednesday at ABC Sports & Fitness in Latham, Phil Isaacson and his Mighty Pucks teammates practice floor hockey.
“I love playing with all the players and passing this around,” said Isaacson.
In 2021, the Special Olympics Winter Games had to be canceled because of COVID-19.
What You Need To Know
- 500 athletes are set to compete in the 2022 Winter Games
- 200 plan to compete in the floor hockey sport alone
- The Special Olympics will accept some virtual scores
They’re back on this year, but some aspects of the big competition will look a little different.
“Certainly with COVID, not all athletes are able to go to state games as they normally would, so having this opportunity locally is giving them a chance to still compete statewide, still go for the gold and get that title at the end of the season,” said spokesperson Casey Vattimo.
Along with snowshoeing, floor hockey will have an optional virtual component this year. Team competitions will still take place in-person in February in Syracuse, but athletes can submit skills scores electronically to limit the spread of omicron.
“They have a lot of practice in under their belt. They are really about that competition component, so they’ve been real troopers with the last two years. They haven’t been able to have that team component, but you see how hard they’re practicing, and they practice like this all of the time,” Director of Programs Danielle Armstrong said.
While taking home the gold is the ultimate goal, Matt Graham spoke for the entire team when he said playing with his friends means so much more than the scores.
“I love this team. I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” said Graham. “We give each other words of encouragement. We always say ‘good job’ to each other. We give each other advice if we ask for it, and nothing negative is ever said.”
Floor hockey skills include shoot around goal, pass, stickhandling, shoot for accuracy and defense. Snowshoe competition includes races at 25, 50, 100 and 200 meters.
Where there is no snow, athletes will compete on sand.
Preliminary scores for both floor hockey skills and snowshoe were due Jan. 21, and final scores were due Feb. 3.
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