Dozens of people participated in the Kick for the Spectrum futsal tournament on a breezy, sunny Chicago Saturday. Most of the day was filled with friendly commotion. But when it came down to the championship game, intensity rose as players fought over whether a team’s goal should count.
DePaul sophomore Ante Radocaj organized Kick for the Spectrum to raise money for the Special Olympics.
“It was a good showout, better than I expected,” Radocaj said.
Eight teams participated. One of the teams in the championship game was called “ForEliasFC,” named after sophomore Elias Theodoropoulos, who was actively hooting and hollering for them on the sideline.
“Soccer is a passionate sport,” Theodoropoulos said. “If it’s for a cause that you love, it’s even better because your passion will combine with the passion of soccer.”
Theodoropoulos has autism and ADHD. Radocaj was inspired to raise money for the Special Olympics in part by Theodoropoulos.
“It’s also important that they don’t just play for me but they play for themselves,” Theodoropoulos said. “And every team here keeps in mind that they’re not just playing soccer, but they’re playing for a good cause to help people with disabilities.”
There were around 100 people, including family and friends, who watched and/or participated in the tournament. Thalia Tarsinos, Theodoropoulos’ mom, was cheering and clapping for many of the games.
“I think bringing awareness to something like Special Olympics normalizes neurodiversity,” Tarsinos said. “When you see people like this getting together and celebrating it, I think things like that are important.”
Matt Russo, a friend of Radocaj’s, participated in the tournament with a group of alumni from different Chicago colleges.
“It’s an excuse to get together on a nice day and spend some time with friends and also raise money and awareness about the cause,” Russo said.
Radocaj was hoping to raise anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000, but he said he was ecstatic that the tournament raised $5,000.
ForEliasFC ended up winning the championship game 5-1. They all celebrated together as they hoisted up the trophy and Theodoropoulos joined them in mere seconds.
“I hope walking away from this, people have more of an awareness of giving others a chance,” Tarsinos said. “Everybody deserves a chance, and everybody deserves to have friends, and I hope this becomes an annual thing.”
Related stories:
Support Student Journalism!
The DePaulia is DePaul University’s award-winning, editorially independent student newspaper. Since 1923, student journalists have produced high-quality, on-the-ground reporting that informs our campus and city.
We rely on reader support to keep doing what we do. Donations are tax deductible through DePaul’s giving page.
Source link
#Kick #Spectrum #tournament #blends #sports #support #special
