By: Christine Hatty

As football season approaches, it is time for another Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) Flag Football Expo! The Flag Football Expo will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 8 in conjunction with the 2012 State Cycling Finals at Chrysler Group LLC, Chelsea Proving Grounds. Flag football will take place at Chelsea Public Schools.

This Flag Football Expo will be the second put on by SOMI in hopes that flag football will become an official sport for SOMI in 2013. The first expo which was held in Kelly/Shorts Stadium at Central Michigan University during the 2012 State Summer Games was a huge success! Aside from the eight teams who played, the Flag Football Expo was showcased to other athletes and coaches for the first time from a SOMI perspective.

"Initially when we first mentioned flag football, it raised a lot of interest," said Dan Ekonen, manager of coaches education and volunteers. "After flag football was viewed at State Summer Games, interest has only grown bigger."

At this event, the eight teams who have registered will play flag football against each other, and if time permits, SOMI will offer a flag football skills event for other athletes as well as traditional and unified teams.

Flag football training for coaches will be held throughout the year.

For more information, please contact the Sports and Training Director Heather Burke by email burke1hn@cmich.edu or phone (989) 774-7459.