When thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers, and fans gathered in Minnesota for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, they answered a simple but powerful call: Calling All Champions. The rallying theme and message could be seen and felt throughout the Games, alongside the Circle of Inclusion logo, uniting athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, partners, and fans around a shared vision of inclusion and achievement.
For some NIRSA members, that call extended beyond the sidelines and onto the field of play. As part of the NIRSA Student Officials Development Program, which has offered a pathway to officiate at the Special Olympics USA Games since 2018,12 student officials, and two campus recreation professionals came to Minnesota from colleges and universities that spanned across the nation to support flag football and basketball competition at the USA Games.
Throughout the week, officials worked 68 flag football games across five Unified and traditional divisions and 118 basketball games across 11 Unified and traditional divisions. Their involvement fostered a high-quality competition experience for athletes while simultaneously benefitting from meaningful opportunities to apply their skills through inclusive sport.
NIRSA student officials at the USA Games
The individual officials at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games whose pathway to Minnesota experience went through the NIRSA Student Officials Development Program include:
Flag Football
- Nick Bloor, Creighton University
- Mare Broton, Purdue University
- Riley Burnette, University of Tennessee
- Cody Burris, University of South Dakota
- Calvin Saffell, Oklahoma State University
- Aidan Teague, North Dakota State University
Laura Shively, Director of Sport Programs at Duke University served as their professional staff mentor .
Basketball
- Seth Crutchfield (University of Florida),
- Evan Dressel (University of Florida),
- Hedda Flynn (University of Oregon),
- LaMya Green (Louisiana State University),
- Jay Jordan (University of Nevada, Reno),
- Harsha Mavuri (University of Minnesota)
Jessica Cuadra, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports at Duke University served as their professional staff mentor.
Play Unified
NIRSA’s partnership with Special Olympics formally began in 2016, although the two organizations have collaborated since 2009. Together, our members create opportunities for college students and campus recreation professionals to experience inclusive, meaningful opportunities to participate in sports through Unified Sports.
On campuses across North America, NIRSA professionals help lead Unified Intramural Sports, bringing together participants with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates and competitors.
Unified teams also compete at the regional and national level through NIRSA Championship Series tournaments.
By the numbers
See how our shared impact continues to grow among 341 college-level Unified Champion Schools® across the United States:
- 87% of participating colleges offer Unified Sports programming
- 62% participate in Unified Intramural Sports
- The most popular Unified Sports on college and university campuses include basketball (65%), flag football (40%), and soccer (40%)
- 93% of student liaisons surveyed said their involvement influenced their future career or community involvement plans
Perhaps most significantly, the majority of students involved in college-level Unified Champion Schools® are experiencing Special Olympics for the first time, creating new advocates for inclusion and expanding the movement’s reach.
Connect with your local Special Olympics Program today
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games reminded everyone that inclusion is built by communities coming together.
Calling all athletes, whose dedication inspires others.
Calling all parents, coaches, and friends, whose support helps athletes thrive.
Calling all volunteers and officials, whose commitment makes competition possible.
Calling all partners, whose investment helps create a more inclusive future.
And calling all fans, whose encouragement lifts athletes to new heights.
For NIRSA members, campus recreation professionals and student leaders looking to continue that work, one of the best next steps is to connect with your local Special Olympics program and explore opportunities to support Unified Sports on your campus and in your community.
Together, we can continue building a future where everyone has the opportunity to play, lead, compete, and belong.
- If you have questions about the NIRSA Championship Series, please contact NIRSA Director of National Sport Programs Randall Ford.
