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Going the Virtual Distance

Villanova has hosted Special Olympics Pennsylvania's Fall Fest every year since 1988, but it has never been quite like this. Nearly 400 Villanova students helped to pull off the first all-virtual competition, planning the weekend’s activities, including opening ceremonies, warm-up activities, hype videos, awards and even a virtual dance party.

Taped by parents or coaches, close to 800 athletes competed in seven sports from the comfort of their own homes: bocce, long distance running and walking, powerlifting, roller skating, volleyball, soccer and flag football.

Photos Provided By Special Olympics Pennsylvania and the Villanova Special Olympics Committee

male Special Olympic athlete jumping outside male student wearing a tutu and holding an inflatable guitar taking part in virtual dance party group of Villanova students wearing face masks and jumping for joy on a rooftop smiling female athlete wearing earbuds sitting on a concrete parking block gold foil balloons spell out Fall Fest 2020 the backs of two athletes walking around a track the back of a masked student looking at a laptop screen with a video meeting young man outside atop a ladder Special Olympic athlete inside doing push-ups black-and-white photo of two female students smiling behind their face masks two Special Olympics participants wearing workout clothing pose on a field outside close-up of Special Olympics blue tie-dye shirt two Special Olympics participants, one male, one female, kneel on asphalt while holding hands and smiling

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