By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
More than 270 athletes competed in the Special Olympics Connecticut Fall Festival bocce competition at the city’s Old Grove Park courts Saturday and Sunday.
The 2025 Unified Sports Fall Festival tournament, presented by Mohegan Sun, showcased Special Olympians from several teams statewide, including West Haven, Hamden, North Haven, Westport and New Milford.
On Saturday morning, the opening ceremony took place on the grounds of the historic shoreline park and included a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard and the singing of the national anthem by Special Olympics Connecticut athlete Fallon Moran.
It also included remarks by Mayor Dorinda Borer and Special Olympics Connecticut President and CEO Michael B. Mason and board member Lisa Kovlakas, who served as the master of ceremonies. Kovlakas is ESPN’s manager of strategic partnerships and corporate citizenship.
Borer thanked Special Olympics Connecticut for organizing the bocce competition and selecting West Haven as the host site for the second straight year.
Before welcoming the hundreds of athletes and their families “to our great city,” the mayor also thanked the event’s corporate sponsors, including Stop & Shop of West Haven, which donated 600 lunches for the opening ceremony, along with the many volunteers and the city’s Fire and Police departments for their participation.
“We appreciate you and all that you’re doing,” said Borer, who received a glass-encased Unified Sports Fall Festival medal and plaque from Mason and Kovlakas. “Athletes, I know you’ve been practicing your skills all year long. Enjoy today and tomorrow, and I hope you have a lot of fun here in West Haven!”
The ceremony was attended by state Rep. Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven.
As DJ Steve Gourdier played John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare and Theme,” bocce competitor Ray Hadden of New Milford Special Olympics carried the “flame of hope” into the venue with West Haven Police Chief Joseph S. Perno.
“Many thanks to the town of West Haven, including Savin Rock, and so many others who have come out this weekend to be with us,” Kovlakas said. “It’s now my pleasure to declare the 2025 Unified Sports Fall Festival bocce tournament officially open. Let the Games begin — good luck!”
West Haven’s six bocce courts were donated and constructed by Special Olympics Connecticut for the Special Olympics World Games bocce competition in July 1995.
Other Special Olympics competitions were also held across the state, including sailing in Stonington, softball in East Hartford and golf in Hamden.
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 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 statewide and in 190 countries worldwide by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field.