The Newcastle Jets embrace 2013 Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games.
The Newcastle Jets have relished having the 2013 Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games in town with the team joining in on the action through involvement in a number of activities hosted throughout the week-long event.
Players Andrew Hoole and Sam Gallaway launched into the week on Monday when they took the field for a unified football demonstration match involving Special Olympic athletes and ambassadors from across the globe, as well as one of Japan-s most famous football players, Hidetoshi Nakata.
The friendly game showcased the skill and passion of participants and was watched by hundreds of spectators, eager to see the Special Olympics athletes pit themselves against the football identities.
Six Jets players and NNSW Football game development staff members engaged players from the Australian Special Olympics football team in a skills clinic and game at Number 2 Sportsground on Tuesday.
Connor Chapman, Scott Neville, Jacob Pepper, Mitchell Oxborrow, John Solari and Mitch Cooper were on hand to test and develop the skills of the athletes and enjoyed engaging with the Australian representative teams.
Australia-s 2015 Asian Cup has formed a strategic alliance with the Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games to celebrate Newcastle-s involvement as a host city for both events.
The Games have seen 2,000 Special Olympics athletes, 600 coaches and officials, over 4,000 volunteers and an estimated 200,000 spectators from over 32 countries in the Asia Pacific region converge on Newcastle.
The football games at Number 2 Sportsground continue until the end of the week and are free to all spectators.
