New name for Special Olympics event

MARLBOROUGH – Long dubbed simply the August Tournament, the Special Olympics of Massachusetts’ annual two-day bocce, cycling, golf and softball competition will have a new name when it comes to Marlborough next summer.

After announcing in September the tournament will move from its previous home at UMass Amherst to Marlborough in 2016, Special Olympics officials created a social media campaign to rename the competition.

“It doesn’t speak to the mission and the athletes participating,” Charles Hirsch, Special Olympics of Massachusetts communications and marketing manager, said of the previous name.

Staff members and volunteers offered suggestions for a new name and the list was whittled down to four selections: Unity Games, Inclusion Games, the Marlborough Classic and the Tournament of Champions, said Hirsch.

Residents voted for their choice on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Tournament of Champions received 46 percent of the vote, said Hirsch.

“We’re excited to give (the tournament) its new name,” he said.

The organization decided to move the games to Marlborough because of the availability of quality athletic facilities and to make it easier for athletes and volunteers to get to the event.

Bocce competitions will be held at Fore Kicks in Marlborough, while softball games will be played at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough. Sites for golf and the 5K and 10K cycling competitions are still being determined, said Hirsch.

The competition will focus primarily on “Unified Sports,” a Special Olympics initiative where athletes with and without disabilities participate as teammates, said Hirsch.

The Tournament of Champions, which will be held Aug. 27-28, is expected to bring more than 1,000 athletes and 500 volunteers to the city. For more information on the tournament and Special Olympics of Massachusetts visit www.specialolympicsma.org

Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.