MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo, Special Olympics Texas, 76 Team up for Unified We Play Challenge

June 26, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - The Houston Dynamo and Special Olympics Texas will once again work together to create the Houston Dynamo Unified Team, presented by 76. However, in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the format and competitions for the team will look a little different this year.

With the COVID-19 pandemic making it unsafe for teams to travel and play typical games, the Dynamo and seven other MLS Unified Teams will compete virtually in the Unified We Play Challenge. This virtual competition will include both physical activities and soccer skills challenges that athletes and partners will compete in each week. The competition is set to run from June 29 through July 31 and is organized by MLS WORKS through Major League Soccer's partnership with Special Olympics.

The unique experience began earlier this month when the Club held a Virtual Signing Day for the Unified Team members. Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash players visited each Dynamo Unified Team member at home to deliver their jersey and official Club contract to the doorstep. Each team member signed his or her contract once back inside their home.

VIDEO ASSET: Dynamo GK Cody Cropper and Dash DF Katie Naughton delivering jerseys to Unified Team players

Each Dynamo Unified athlete received an authentic Dynamo jersey with the player's name and number on the back, a Dynamo training top featuring the iconic 76 logo, a Dynamo soccer ball, water bottle, sport sack and team scarf.

All eight Unified Teams will have Special Olympics athletes and partners compete in three divisions with points earned from head-to-head matchups to take place over a five-week period. At the end of the competition, the Unified Team with the most points at the top of the overall standings will be crowned champion.

MLS UNIFIED TEAMS

Atlanta United

Colorado Rapids

Houston Dynamo

New England Revolution

New York City FC

New York Red Bulls

Real Salt Lake

Sporting KC

The Unified We Play competition is designed to provide a fun, inclusive and unique competition for MLS Unified Teams, who traditionally travel to play exchange matches inside MLS stadiums however will be unable to enjoy those experiences this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. For more information on the United We Play Challenge visit https://www.houstondynamo.com/specialolympics.

This is the fifth year that the Dynamo and Special Olympics Texas have joined together as part of a larger partnership with MLS WORKS, Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, and Special Olympics North America. The Dynamo and Special Olympics Texas are collaborating to leverage the power of sports to promote an environment of social inclusion and acceptance by uniting people with and without intellectual disabilities through Special Olympics Unified Sports.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 26, 2020


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