The UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute is organizing a bocce ball team that will take part in Special Olympics Nebraska events.
The team’s first practice was held on June 27, but athletes who wish to join before the July 9 deadline still can reach out to MMI’s Melonie Welsh or Jacqueline Hankins, coaches for the team, or attend the next team meeting and practice at 4:45 p.m. on July 7 at the Munroe-Meyer Institute building at 6902 Pine St.
According to Special Olympics Nebraska, the basic principle of the Italian sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. After soccer and golf, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world.
Unified athletes – athletes without disabilities who compete on teams with Special Olympic athletes – also are welcome to join.
The organization of the team – which will compete in Special Olympics events – is part of the continuing partnership between MMI and SONE, Welsh said.
“SONE has been a great partner with MMI,” she said. “But also for us, the opportunities are twofold. The first is, it’s nice to take our staff and providers out of typical roles and allow us to play with and host our clients for this exciting opportunity. Also, there’s a wellness factor – we see this as an opportunity to be fun and physically active.
“I’m excited to continue to grow our relationship with the Special Olympics and promote inclusion.”
Hankins said she is excited to learn bocce along with the players she’ll be coaching.
“I’m also excited to share this game with communities that may not be familiar with it,” she said. “Representation is important, and I hope my participation in bocce ball will continue to help increase diversity in Special Olympics.”
The team will practice at the Munroe-Meyer Institute building. The fall Special Olympics Games will be Saturday, Aug. 5.
There is no cost to join a team.
“I watched the impressive bocce ball players, as well as the other athletes, at the Special Olympics World Games, and I was amazed at their skills and passion,” said Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute. “Now, we are excited and proud to offer our MMI community a chance to take part in Special Olympics through our own MMI bocce ball team, just the latest example of the evolving and impactful collaboration between MMI and Special Olympics.”