Following its debut last year, the Gaming for Inclusion e-sports event will make its return in 2022. And once again, Xbox will be partnering with Special Olympics to bring disabled and handicapped athletes together for a Rocket League e-sports competition.
Contestants will be competing for a chance to play alongside Special Olympics celebrity supporters including Jamaal Charles of the NFL, TikToker vaultboy, and various stars from WWE wrestling. The Celebrity Showcase will stream on September 17.
Also, this year’s Gaming for Inclusion will give three Special Olympics athletes a chance to shine as shoutcasters and hosts at the event. These are Jose Moreno from Special Olympics Illinois, Amber Gertsch from Special Olympics Utah, and Ben Gregory from Special Olympics Indiana.
Each of these lucky athletes will get to travel to Redmond, WA for two-day training at Microsoft’s campus where they’ll learn how to analyze e-sports games and provide commentary. Of the opportunity, Moreno had this to say,
I appreciate Special Olympics and Microsoft for providing me with this incredible leadership opportunity to become a shoutcaster at this year’s Gaming for Inclusion event. Gaming creates a common bond and a fun way to connect with people of all abilities around the world. I’ve made new friends through gaming because we love it, and anyone can play.
The Rocket League tournament will be held on Saturday, September 10 with the Celebrity Showcase following a week later on the 17th. You can watch these streams on the official Xbox Twitch channel as well as on the Special Olympics YouTube channel.
