Onwunze invited for fourth NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball championship

SPECIAL Olympics Nigeria’s athlete, Chidalu Onwunze, has been invited to participate in the 4th Annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York, for the first time on Saturday in conjunction with the NBA All-Star Weekend.

In the year 2014, the 3rd edition of the annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Games was held in New Orleans with Special Olympics Africa Athletes from Egypt and Senegal participating. This year, a Nigerian athlete will be participating in the event. The Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game will feature NBA and WNBA Legends who will play with Special Olympic basketball athletes from all over the world in a 5 by 5 tournament. This is event is organised to showcase the power of Special Olympics’ Unified Sports which helps unite communities and foster an environment of acceptance and also help give a sense of belonging to special athletes. 

The National Director of special Olympic Nigeria, Naomi Saliu Lawal, disclosed that this is the first time a Nigerian is invited to this prestigious event. She also stated it would be a memorable experience for Onwunze a Nigerian female special Olympic athlete, playing on the same court with NBA, WNBA stars and Basketball legends, including Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Andre Drummond and Victor Oladipo, amongst others.

She heaped praises on Orangeline Development Design Company and Cordros Capital Limited for their contributions to Special Olympics Nigeria and for their assistance in making the event possible.