Mission Moments

For the first time, the Special Olympics USA Games Final Leg Torch Run is spanning coast to coast, raising awareness and funds in multiple cities en route to Minneapolis for the USA Games Opening Ceremony on June 20.

Special Olympics Northern California was honored to host the USA Games Torch Run as a part of our Northern California Torch Run ceremony in Sacramento on June 3. The USA Games Torch Run – which came up from Los Angeles and moved on to Washington after NorCal – is picking up participants from each program along the way, building energy and excitement at every stop.

Norcal Honors The Torch Run

Special Olympics NorCal welcomed the USA Games Final Leg Torch Run on June 3 with a celebration at the State Capitol and recognition at the Sacramento River Cats game.

The Capitol Ceremony featured the arrival of the USA Games and NorCal Flames of Hope, delivered by more than 170 law enforcement runners and athletes; inspiring remarks from a number of high-ranking law enforcement officials; a proclamation presented by Assemblymember Tom Lackey; and the departure of the Flames of Hope: the USA Games Torch on to Washington and our NorCal Torch on the way to Santa Clara for the 2026 Summer Games.

The ceremony was hosted by Tamara Berg from KCRA3 Sacramento and Athlete Leader Bradley M.

Celebrating On The Diamond

Following the Capitol ceremony, Special Olympics NorCal was recognized at the Sacramento River Cats game at Sutter Health Park. Both Sgt. Silva and athlete Justin threw out ceremonial first pitches, a local Special Olympics athlete delivered the “Play Ball!” address, and Special Olympics was recognized throughout the game in different promotions.

Dozens of Team NorCal athletes and coaches were invited to enjoy the park and were featured on the video board to highlight their upcoming trip to the USA Games.

Following The Torch

As the USA Games Flame of Hope wraps up its national journey, Team NorCal will meet it in Minneapolis on June 20 for the star-studded Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony. Team NorCal is represented by 67 athletes and 22 coaches who will participate in nine different sports during a week of competition.

Meet Team NorCal, follow their journey and support the delegation!  

About Special Olympics Northern California:  

Special Olympics Northern California empowers children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports. Through the power of sport, we promote inclusion, acceptance, and the development of life skills, building stronger communities for one athlete at a time.  

If you’ve flown United Airlines through San Francisco International Airport (SFO) recently you may have noticed a new group of attendants helping travelers along their way.

SONorCal representatives of United’s Special Olympics Service Ambassadors (SOSA) program have been on the job at SFO since early this year, greeting passengers and helping them with check-in kiosks, tagging bags and navigating security lines.

First launched during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October 2019, United’s SOSA program has created employment opportunities at airports around the country and given Special Olympics athletes opportunities to gain first-hand experience working with the flying public[1] . It expanded to SFO this January.

We sat down with three SONorCal athletes, and one parent, to chat about their experiences as SOSA representatives at SFO and what it’s like working in one of the busiest airports in the United States.

About Special Olympics Service Ambassadors

For Special Olympics NorCal athletes Gaby and Jonathan, working as a Special Olympics Service Ambassador at San Francisco International Airport is an exciting, fun way to work with people doing something they both like to do: travel.

“For me, working with United is (about) working with customers,” says Gaby. “It’s important to work with customers, showing up with a positive attitude.”

“I greet them, and help them out and tag their bags,” she says.

“It’s a good place to work,” says Jonathan. “I work with a lot of people, so that’s cool. I direct them to which gate to go to. I show them where to go. And I help them out at the kiosk, printing bag tags and boarding passes.”

Seasoned SONorCal athletes, Gaby and Jonathan were introduced to the SOSA program by people who knew about their skills and abilities: their Special Olympics coaches.

One of Gaby’s track coaches texted her to see if she wanted to work at the airport. A coach of Jonathan’s referred him to start working at SFO.

“I was looking for a job for a long time,” said Gaby. Her coach helped her with the application, “and that’s how I got enrolled with United.”

Travel Experiences and Unique Opportunities

Working at the airport has the added bonus of exposing Gaby and Jonathan more to the world of travel.

“I like to travel,” Gaby says. “My family likes to travel. We like to explore things.”

“People that fly out, they go to different countries and different towns, like Newark or Chicago,” she says.

Gaby’s favorite place she’s visited is Colombia. Jonathan has a sister who lives in San Diego that he visits with his family, and he wants to go to Minnesota.

“I like to sit in the middle seat,” he says.

Working at SFO, both Jonathan and Gaby have been able to see some unique things, including a behind-the-scenes tour of luxury airliners and the aircraft maintenance area, where they could see planes undergoing standard servicing.

“We went to the big basement where they make airplanes,” Gaby said.

A Parent’s Perspective

For Special Olympics NorCal athlete parent Bonnie S, the SOSA program was a perfect fit for her daughter Marki.

“Marki’s a very social being,” says Bonnie. “She really does thrive in that kind of an environment.”

Marki had a longstanding job that ended with the pandemic, and had been looking for work in a social setting. Her brother, a Special Olympics basketball coach, heard about the SOSA program and introduced it to Marki.

Working at the airport helps Marki with her independence – as does her navigating a long commute to the airport four days a week.

“We’re both thrilled for this opportunity and the fact that it came up,” Bonnie says. “The United folks were very excited and very warm and accepting.”

At SFO, Marki has had the opportunity to see some famous people in transit.

“I met a celebrity from Law & Order,” Marki says. “I’ve been seeing a lot of college teams coming in and out of the airport. Today I saw the Stanford tennis team. A couple of months ago I saw the Santa Cruz Warriors.”

For Bonnie, the SOSA experience has been highly positive. “I hope that she stays there for a long time,” Bonnie says. “She certainly loves it, loves being out in the public and loves the people that she works with.”

The next time you’re flying United out of SFO and need some help with directions or your boarding passes, rest assured you’ll be in good hands with the help of the Special Olympics Service Ambassadors. Learn more about the program here.

About Special Olympics Northern California:  

Special Olympics Northern California empowers children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports. Through the power of sport, we promote inclusion, acceptance, and the development of life skills, building stronger communities for one athlete at a time.  

Special Olympics Northern California Athlete Leader Martin S. created the first-ever Autism Awareness flag for the City of San Jose this month and was honored at a flag-raising celebration outside of City Hall on April 7. 

“This flag is essential during Autism Awareness Month,” said Martin. “It educates the public on autism as a developmental difference impacting communication and daily routines, while encouraging support.”

Martin, a multi-sport Special Olympics NorCal athlete, is a student at San Jose State University and the founder of Spire Autism. He is passionate about advocating for people of all abilities through speaking and writing – and started the process that led to the flag raising a few years ago.   

“Three years ago, I reached out to {San Jose} Mayor (Matt) Mahan to create a proclamation declaring April as Autism Month,” said Martin. “Fast forward to this year, the mayor and council member reached out to me asking to create the flag.”

The flag raising ceremony was sponsored by San Jose City Councilmember Michael Mulcahy and featured multiple speakers and notable guests. Special Olympics staff members joined other friends and family to celebrate with Martin as the flag was raised – honoring April as Autism Awareness Month and spreading Martin’s message throughout the region.  

“My inspiration for the design was the theme I picked: Unity,” said Martin. “As the number of autistics rises, now more than ever, the community needs to be more unified and support as autistics. Our voices deserve to be heard and not silenced.”

About Special Olympics Northern California:  

Special Olympics Northern California empowers children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports. Through the power of sport, we promote inclusion, acceptance, and the development of life skills, building stronger communities for one athlete at a time.