Special Olympics Australia athlete Eliza Mills will take the court alongside past and present NBA legends, WNBA players and other Special Olympics champions when she competes in Canada at the Special Olympics Unified Sports Basketball Game.
The game is part of the NBA All-Star weekend taking place from 12-14 February 2016 in Toronto, Canada.
The game sees long-time partner and supporter NBA Cares join forces with Special Olympics Unified Sports to bring together people with and without an intellectual disability to compete together at one of the world’s premier sporting events.
Eliza is the only Australian representive of the 12 athletes with an intellectual disability chosen to compete. Of her selection she said, “I feel so overwhelmed and honoured to have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity. I can’t wait to share the court with NBA legends.”
Eliza will also participate in other events over the weekend, including watching the NBA All-Star game which will showcase stars such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.
At just 23, Eliza is no stranger to the international stage, having represented Australia at three Special Olympics World Summer Games (Shanghai 2007, Athens 2011 and Los Angeles 2015), bringing home the gold medal in basketball at each event, in two cases alongside her twin sister Bernadette.
At home Eliza plays basketball in Orange, NSW where she is employed at the local hospital.
Special Olympics Australia provides weekly sports training and regular competition for people with an intellectual disability, giving them opportunities to achieve their personal best in sport and in life.
Find out more at www.specialolympics.com.au
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.