22 July, 2022 - New York, NY. During the iconic https://www.nasdaq.com/ closing bell ceremony, Kristina Ayanian, Head of Client Engagement at Nasdaq, gave a warm welcome to Special Olympics athletes, ambassadors and leaders who joined her on stage to celebrate the Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 kicking off in Detroit, MI on 31 July.
She said, “Today, we are celebrating the upcoming Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 tournament. Modeled after the FIFA World Cup™, from 31st July – 6th August, Detroit will welcome over 300 footballers from over 20 nations to compete in football (soccer) in the Unified Cup. Teams will be comprised of athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities, all playing together.”
Tim Hileman, Special Olympics Michigan CEO, served as the official bell ringer that brought the Nasdaq market to a close for the week.
“Sports not only change lives, it can change the world. Special Olympics utilizes sport and the incredible spirit of our athletes as a catalyst for that change. The Special Olympics Unified Cup Detroit 2022 will be this year’s most inclusive sporting event in the world showcasing the power of sports and inclusion.”
Hileman was joined on stage by Special Olympics athletes Anthony Baines, Steven Maiman, William Reynolds and Zachary Bilello. Also in attendance were Special Olympics Global Ambassador and former NFL wide receiver Dale Moss and Special Olympics Champion Ambassador and celebrity fashion photographer Nigel Barker.
Meanwhile, outside in Time Square, Special Olympics and Unified Cup imagery was displayed on the Nasdaq Tower and Marquee.
The women’s and men’s Division One final matches of the Unified Cup tournament, presented by Toyota, will be streamed live on ESPN-3 on Saturday 6 August starting at 2pm ET. An hour long special about the tournament featuring Unified Cup athletes, will air Saturday, 13 August at 3pm ET on ESPN-2.
For more information about the Unified Cup 2022, visit Unified Cup 2022 (specialolympics.org).
