Real Salt Lake Signs Special Olympics Unified Roster

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has announced and signed their 2021 RSL Unified roster, the club made the announcements at Rio Tinto Stadium in front of media, families, and front office personnel.

Unified Sports is a national movement within Special Olympics that joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It is inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

“I am so proud to stand with you all today at this event that has been six years in the running,” Real Salt Lake Assistant General Manager Tony Beltran said. “Proud to be associated with Utah Special Olympics, proud to be involved in an event that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion for our communities, and proud to see the true power of our sport. The power of all of us coming together and being a positive vehicle for change,” he added.

Introducing the 2021 @SOlympicsUT #RSL Unified Team! pic.twitter.com/4CM2oohX9B

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 16, 2021

The RSL Unified team will play just one game in 2021 due to the global pandemic that has caused scheduling issues for the team. That game will occur on September 4th when the team takes on a team that consists of RSL unified alumni. The game will be played following the Real Salt Lake home fixture against FC Dallas that is currently scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. RSL Unified will begin their game shortly after the final whistle of the first team, roughly around 8:15 p.m.

All of the athletes sat behind their name tag, dressed in their finest attire, and waited anxiously for their name to be called by manager Jenna Holland before they signed their signature in front of Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall making the addition to the club official.

Yesterday, @realsaltlake signed and announced their 2021 RSL Special Olympics Unified Team.

They will play their only game of 2021 on Sept. 4 against a team filled with alumni.

Congratulations to all who signed and best of luck this season! pic.twitter.com/ZqcXsCYE5s

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 16, 2021

Then, the team made their way down to the dressing room where they were presented with their own locker stacked with swag and goodies. Every player received an RSL kit with their name and number on the back, shorts, socks, a soccer ball, among other presents.

Finally, as family members and loved ones watched from the stands, the players underwent their first official training session as members of the RSL Unified team. Manager Holland took charge, along with her assistant coaches, and directed the playing group through a variety of drills.