Special Olympics Connecticut Teams Up with Avelo Airlines to Send Athletes to USA Games

Special Olympics Connecticut Teams Up with Avelo Airlines to Send Athletes to USA Games

Hamden, Conn., April 13, 2022 — Special Olympics Connecticut proudly announces that it is partnering with Avelo Airlines to fly athletes to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida, June 5th – 12th. Avelo will provide roundtrip flights for more than 40 athletes and delegates who are members of Team Connecticut for the Special Olympics USA Games. 

The Special Olympics USA Games will bring together more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean to compete, while promoting inclusion and celebrating individuals of all abilities. Connecticut athletes and teams going to the Games will compete in individual and Unified team sports including basketball, track & field, swimming and gymnastics and will also participate in a Youth Leadership Experience. 

“We will all be cheering for the Connecticut athletes competing at this year’s Special Olympics and we are excited that they are representing our state,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “Partnerships like this one announced today between Special Olympics Connecticut and Avelo are exactly what makes our state so great.”

Avelo serves 13 nonstop destinations from its East Coast base at Southern Connecticut’s most convenient airport – Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). The airline began service from HVN last November and offers more nonstop destinations from Connecticut than any other airline operating in the state.

“We’re pleased and proud to be working with Avelo to provide our athletes with opportunities to compete locally and on the national level. Experiences like these help them gain confidence, develop friendships and achieve what they may never have thought possible. We’re grateful to Avelo for their enthusiastic support and wonderful generosity which will make travel and extraordinary experiences for our athletes a reality” said Beau Doherty, President, Special Olympics Connecticut.

Members of Team Connecticut for the Special Olympics USA Games

In addition to donating the flights for Team Connecticut, Avelo will support Special Olympics Connecticut as a Gold Sponsor of its Summer Games which will take place at Fairfield University and Southern Connecticut State University in June. In addition to sponsoring Summer Games, Avelo Crewmembers (employees) will volunteer at the event, which draws participants from across the state for a weekend of competition in track & field, swimming, soccer, tennis and cycling.

“We are honored to fly these incredible athletes and coaches to this year’s Special Olympics USA Games,” said Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. “Our entire Avelo Crew is inspired by the resilience, teamwork and care for each other these athletes demonstrate in everything they do. They set a high bar for the rest of us to follow and we can’t wait to welcome them aboard this June.”

Plans are also in development for a “plane pull” fundraiser in the fall, and Avelo will offer members of the Special Olympics community – including athletes, family members, coaches and volunteers – exclusive discounts and promotions.

Avelo currently serves six Florida destinations from HVN: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Sarasota-Bradenton and Tampa. Additionally, Avelo recently announced that it is adding seven new destinations outside of Florida: Charleston, S.C.; Chicago, IL; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Nashville, TN; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Savannah, GA; and Washington, D.C. Avelo will begin flying to these destinations in May.

About Avelo Airlines  

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose — to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and moneysaving convenience, very low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Avelo Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 18 popular destinations across the U.S., including its West Coast base at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and its East Coast base at TweedNew Haven Airport (HVN). For more information visit AveloAir.com Avelo BROLL + Images here

About Special Olympics Connecticut  

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners – their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org).

Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto’s Inc., Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Raytheon Technologies and WWE. Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Coca-Cola
Beverages Northeast, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.