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September 5, 2023

Project $2M: Special Olympics teams up with the EE

The Edmonton Elks are partnering with Special Olympics Alberta to help raise awareness about its movement and the inclusion revolution.

Fans can show their support for Special Olympics Alberta and the Elks when the Green and Gold take on the Calgary Stampeders at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 9 at 5 p.m.

The Elks have long supported Special Olympics Alberta through the Polar Plunge, held every winter as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Alberta athletes across the province.

It’s through such partnerships and the efforts of volunteers that Special Olympics Alberta is able to grow and continue bringing grass-roots programming and Olympic-level competition to over 2,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the province.

Special Olympics, however, is about more than just sport for athletes like Edmonton’s Neil Ivan, who has been with Special Olympics for four decades since the age of 5. Neil sits on the Special Olympics Edmonton AMC as the Athlete Representative and volunteers at Special Olympics events across the city. Neil also met his wife through Special Olympics and they have been happily married for 18 years.

“I think people should join Special Olympics just to have fun, meet new people, and also travel to different communities,” Neil says.

In 2010, Neil traveled to London, Ontario as part of Team Alberta for the Special Olympics National Games and has competed at provincial level games eight times having brought home over 15 medals.

“My first sport was 5 pin bowling,” Neil says. “Now I participate in two sports: floor hockey and bocce.”

Visit the Special Olympics Alberta website to learn more, and get your Elks tickets now through Ticketmaster.