Special Olympics Unified Cup set for Detroit starting July 31

DETROIT — Normally home to Detroit City FC, Keyworth Stadium is set to host one of the most exciting championship matches to take place this year.

Starting July 31, Detroit will welcome more than 300 soccer players from 24 nations for the Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota.

Players, ages 18-24, with and without intellectual disabilities will take part in a week of sports and excitement.

The event not only celebrates sports, but illustrates the power of inclusion, camaraderie and competition.

“Hosting such an international Unified event in Detroit is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Jennifer Essary, managing director of the Real Estate One Charitable Foundation. “The Special Olympics Michigan team worked tirelessly to secure the win; Detroit and Special Olympics Michigan will have the eyes of the world on them during the week of July 31 to Aug. 6.”

The Real Estate One Charitable Foundation will be the official “fan in the stands” for the event after making an aggressive bid to bring the Unified Cup to Detroit.

“Tim Hileman, the CEO of Special Olympics Michigan, asked our Foundations to step-up and support SOMI’s Detroit’s bid to host the Unified Cup,” Essary said. “We enthusiastically agreed to do so by committing to the Fans in the Stands sponsorship.”

Real Estate One is a statewide sponsor of Special Olympics Michigan, as they’ve volunteered at the Winter Games in Traverse City, the Summer Games in Mount Pleasant and the Fall Games in the Ann Arbor, Saline and Ypsilanti area.

The foundation contributed over $100,000 in five statewide polar plunges last February and annually contributes $250,000 for Special Olympics Michigan.

The championship matches on Aug. 6 at Keyworth Stadium will be broadcast on ESPN. For more information and to purchase tickets to the finals, which cost $10-$15, visit specialolympics.org/unified-cup-2022.

Events are as follows:

• July 31: Opening ceremony, Law Enforcement Torch Run final leg, and opening matches

Location: The Corner Ballpark

• Aug. 1-5: Preliminary matches.

Location: Men’s — Schoolcraft College. Women’s — The Corner Ballpark

• Aug. 3-5: Healthy Athletes (provides programs in vision, dentistry, physical therapy, audiology, health promotion, and pediatric screenings).

Location: St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center at Schoolcraft College.

• Aug. 4-6: The first Unified Champion City Schools Summit will aim to bring students, teachers and administrators together to grow connections with Special Olympics in city school districts.

Location: TBA.

• Aug. 6: Men’s and women’s championship matches. The Unified celebrity match at 1 p.m. will kick off the day.

Location: Keyworth Stadium.