Some 250 area students will celebrate athletes of all abilities as they tip off the annual Unified Basketball Competition at St. Bonaventure University April 11.

Teams from Allegany-Limestone, Franklinville, Olean, Portville and Salamanca school districts will participate in the daylong friendly competition. Each team, which consists of athletes with and without disabilities, will play three rounds of basketball. The annual event is co-sponsored by students in St. Bonaventure’s Health Science Internship course and Special Olympics New York.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Reilly Center Arena, followed by the first round of games tipping off at 10:05 a.m.

Preceding the ceremony, the Trooper Ross M. Riley leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run will kick off the day’s activities. The torch run is named in memory of New York State Trooper Riley, who died in 2013 during a training exercise.

Those who want to participate in the Torch Run and carry the Flame of Hope through Olean should be at the Olean City Building by 8 a.m.; the run will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. at Lincoln Park. The Torch Run will travel down West State Street and enter the Opening Ceremonies for the unified games. Runners are invited to stay and cheer on the athletes as they compete in these games.

For more information about the Torch Run and how to participate, contact Erica Raepple at Special Olympics New York at eraepple@nyso.org or 716-909-6444.

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