A group of Grand Valley State University students and Special Olympics of Michigan athletes have formed a soccer league together to help promote social inclusion.

The four-team intramural league, called Unified Soccer, plays every Wednesday through June 10 at 6 p.m. The games are at the soccer fields on GVSU's Allendale Campus along Laker Village Drive.

Games are played in a 7 vs 7 format, with four Special Olympics athletes and three Grand Valley students playing together on each team.

The partnership is part of Special Olympics Unified Sports, an international initiative that promotes social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.

"The new program provides Special Olympics of Michigan athletes and students the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle and create new friendships in an inclusive environment, which is the goal," said Mackenzie Lucius, organizer of the league and graduate assistant for Campus Recreation at Grand Valley.

GVSU plans to add flag football, basketball and kickball programs in the future.

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