Peter Burnett and Jonathan Slater talk with Bruce Gemmill of Main Street Bank about bringing the Special Olympics to Northern Virginia.

Earlier this year, Peter Burnett and Jonathan Slater sat down to chat with Bruce Gemmill, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Operator of Main Street Bank, on Burnett & Williams’ Law & Community podcast. Main Street Bank, along with a host of other local sponsors, is playing an important role in bringing the Special Olympics to Northern Virginia. The one-day event is scheduled to be held on October 4th, 2020, at the brand-new Saint Paul VI high school in Loudoun County (you can visit the Special Olympics Virginia Facebook page for updates on any COVID-related cancelation or delay of the event).

This regional Special Olympics event will be the first of its kind in Northern Virginia, and is expected to attract as many as 500 athletes and more than 1,000 spectators. Invitations have been sent out to potential participants in Prince William County, Fauquier County, Fairfax County, and Washington, DC, as well as Prince George’s County, Howard County, and Montgomery County in Maryland.

The event is free, and will feature Special Olympians competing in bocce, soccer, volleyball, flag football, and possibly basketball. If there is high interest in this fall event, both from competitors and local sponsors, there is talk of adding a springtime Special Olympics, with a different slate of events for the athletes to compete in. 

It is through the generous support of local sponsors — including media sponsor the Loudoun Times-Mirror; the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development; and Visit Loudoun that this event is possible. We here at Burnett & Williams applaud all of those in our local community who step up to help bring inspiring and exciting events like the Special Olympics to our own backyard. We can’t wait to cheer on these exceptional athletes!