By Christina Lépine – Staff Writer

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Bishop’s annual motionball marathon of sports took place. From 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., teams competed in a series of sports and activities with the aid of Special Olympic athletes. Each team was assigned an athlete who had previously signed up to partake in this event. 

Bishop’s students and staff joined this effort by creating teams of a maximum of ten people to participate in this day of activities. Each team was assigned one or two Special Olympic athletes, our superstars of the day. All teams participated in scheduled events including soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, minute-to-win-it, Just Dance, #NoGoodWay information session, and more. The goal of the marathon of sports is to educate all participants about the Special Olympics and to provide them with a new and engaging way to give back and gain valuable experience. 

I had the opportunity to take part in this event as part of a team last year and to run a station this year, and I can affirm this experience is very rewarding for all participants, volunteers, and the organizing team. Whether team members prefer competing in sports, busting a move, or answering trivia questions, this eventful day is the perfect opportunity to meet other students and athletes and to try new things. In between two Just Dance song requests, I had the chance to chat with a Special Olympic athlete’s father who shared his experience as a bystander who has attended many marathons of sports across the province, and he complimented Bishop’s organizing team and participants as he felt this was one of the most inclusive and welcoming motionball events he has ever been too. He enjoyed watching his daughters thrive in different sports and activities and blend in perfectly with their assigned teams. This yearly event is also a great way for all participants to bond as a team, either with friends, coworkers, or teammates and to discover new hobbies.  

This year, as part of motionball, the Bishop’s community has raised a total of $20.000 for Special Olympics in events and fundraisers including activities such as Tipsy Yoga and Aqua Fit, the marathon of sports fundraiser, and many more events yet to come this semester. For more information on future motionball events and fundraisers, follow the Instagram account @motionballubishops where you can find links to learn about motionball, the #No Good Way pledge, buy a raffle ticket to get a chance to win a signed 2025 Montreal Canadiens shirt, or to donate to the Special Olympics.