New York Sports Clubs Donates Gym Space and Time to Special Olympics New York Athletes
New York, NY – Though the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the lives of Special Olympics New York athletes, it hasn’t prevented them from training. Thanks to New York Sports Clubs (NYSC), local athletes practice in state-of-the-art New York City facilities.
Special Olympics New York athletes trained in basketball, swimming, and powerlifting at NYSC during the Fall Sports Season, and are currently using the facility to train in floor hockey for the Winter Sports Season.
“We are fortunate to have partners like NYSC who always seem to step in and take care of our athletes when they need it,” said Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “When NYSC found out we were having trouble securing facility space for local training clubs, they welcomed our athletes, coaches and teams. That’s the true spirit of inclusion and community.”
“The opportunity to work with an empowering organization like the Special Olympics inspired us,” said Roger Harvey, CEO of New York Sports Clubs. “Their athletes’ dedication and passion have helped every NYSC family member who has worked with them find their way to their best selves. We couldn’t be more excited to grow our partnership.”
“Being able to train in swimming and basketball was helpful for my Special Olympics friends and myself,” said Matthew Schuster, a Long Island athlete who trains at NYSC. “It felt great after so much time not training together during the pandemic.”
Training is essential. Special Olympics New York athletes must practice with a certified coach for at least eight weeks before participating in any competition. The organization’s largest and most recent competition was its State Fall Games held in Glens Falls. This was the first Fall Games in six years and their first state-level competition since February 2020.
NYSC and its family of brands provides one of the largest gym networks across the east coast, giving members a complete destination for full-spectrum wellness needs. Over four decades, NYSC has stood as a beacon welcoming everyone to take the first step on their fitness journey no matter their level of experience. Through cutting-edge classes, innovative programming, and state-of-the-art facilities, NYSC lives a simple mission: Make Today Matter.
Special Olympics New York will hold its next state-level competition, the 2022 Winter Games, in Syracuse, NY, February 25-26, 2022.
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About New York Sports Clubs
New York Sports Clubs and our family of brands was initially founded in 1973 in New York City, and is a chain of large, full-service, commercial gyms that offer a great selection of state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment, as well as exceptional personal training, group fitness, and other wellness programs. The company operates 68 gyms in total (65 in the U.S. and 3 in Switzerland) under the following brand names: New York Sports Clubs, Boston Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Clubs, Philadelphia Sports Clubs, Lucille Roberts, and Around The Clock Fitness. For more information, visit www.newyorksportsclubs.com and follow @nysc on Instagram and @NewYorkSportsClubs on Facebook.
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 51,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with about 250 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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