ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- On Sunday, March 30, the Elizabethtown College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in partnership with the NCAA and Special Olympics of Lancaster County, hosted the Special Olympics swim meet on campus at the Alumni Pool. Blue Jay student-athletes from all sports volunteered to help put on the meet.

Among the many highlights of the service of the College's student-athletes, nothing has been a brighter spot than the hosting of the Special Olympics swim meet each year in the spring.

This is the seventh time that Etown SAAC has hosted a Special Olympics swim meet. 55 athletes from seven counties (Lancaster, Berks, Chester, Chester Rammies, Northumberland Snyder, Area M, Lebanon) competed across 18 events. During the event, more than 100 Elizabethtown student-athletes volunteered in varying capacities at the meet. 

"To me, Special Olympics is more than sports--it's about empowerment, inclusion, and breaking barriers", said Ava Lammersen. "It gives athletes confidence, friendships, and the belief that they can achieve anything!" 

Founded in 1983, Special Olympics of Lancaster County is a year-round sports training and competition program for individuals from ages 6 and up with intellectual disabilities. Lancaster County offers 15 different Olympic-type sports at no cost to the athletes or their families.

Special Olympics sports have specially adapted rules sanctioned by the International Sports Federation of each to make them competitive for individuals with intellectual disabilities.