North Carolina Football Club Partners with Special Olympics for Weekly Workouts

For the past month, stars from both North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage joined Special Olympics athletes from across the state for a series of weekly, at-home workouts.

The coronavirus pandemic ended Special Olympics programming and NCFC training was cancelled. With both groups in search of alternate methods for maintaining fitness, this unique partnership proved a perfect way to stay fit, maintain healthy lifestyles, and promote inclusivity.

Every Thursday, this partnership kicked off with an introduction of the players who would be leading the workouts. Each player was responsible for demonstrating the simple exercises that made up the 45 minute long weekly workouts.

“It’s been really amazing to know that we have support from other professional sports organizations,” said SONC health director Ellen Fahey, “They understand the importance of making sure athletes are staying active and healthy.”

Throughout the workouts, there was laughter and engagement as NCFC players explained the exercises. Once the workout was complete, Special Olympics athletes participated in a Q&A session with the players.

“It’s really cool to see that we are all athletes and we’re in this together,” said Fahey, “That’s really huge for building an inclusive community in sports in North Carolina and making our athletes feel like they are a part of that sports community.”

For Alex Comsia, center back for NCFC and one of the participants in the program, these workouts meant even more.

“It was a super super fun experience, I’m very glad to have been a part of it,” said Comsia, “It was obviously very meaningful to me because the Special Olympics has a close place in my heart because of my sister’s experience.”

Comsia’s sister is diagnosed with down syndrome and autism, and has grown up as an athlete participating in the Special Olympics in Canada. Comsia has grown up inspired by the courage of his sister and was excited to participate in a program that would connect him to athletes like his own sister.

“My sister is my inspiration. She’s the one who gives me true perspective in life,” said Comsia, “It is super meaningful to me to see athletes who have disabilities. I’m really inspired by their courage and their mentality to show what can be done.”

Last week was a wrap on this inspiring program, but the excitement coming from all the athletes who were involved may result in making this workout series an annual event.