Avelo Airlines and Team Connecticut Depart For 2022 Special Olympics USA Games

Avelo Airlines and Team Connecticut Depart For 2022 Special Olympics USA Games

Avelo flying 50 athletes and coaches from HVN to Orlando State and local leaders to cheer team at Tweed departure ceremony

NEW HAVEN, Conn.; June 4, 2022 – Avelo Airlines is taking flight this afternoon from New Haven to Orlando with 50 athletes, coaches and delegates representing Special Olympics Connecticut. Avelo is flying Team Connecticut – free of charge – to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games being conducted June 5th – 12th at the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Special Olympics Connecticut President Beau Dohertysaid, “We are thrilled that our Team will be flying Avelo Airlines to the Special Olympics USA Games. Having the opportunity to compete at the national level will allow these athletes to form new friendships, demonstrate their athletic skills and create memories to last a lifetime. We are immensely grateful for Avelo’s generous support and involvement in making our Team’s USA Games experience possible.”  

Avelo Airlines Flight 319 will depart Connecticut’s most convenient airport – Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) – at 4:40 p.m. arriving at Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 7:25 p.m. Team Connecticut, which includes athletes and coaches from across the state, will be honored at an airport departure ceremony officiated by state and local leaders.  

Confirmed Participants:

• U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
• Special Olympics Connecticut President Beau Doherty
• East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora
• Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy
• Tweed-New Haven Airport Director Sean Scanlon

The HVN Fire Department will conduct a water salute in the form of a ceremonial water arch over the Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-700 as it prepares for departure. 

Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, “These athletes and coaches represent the very best of Connecticut. We are honored to be helping Team Connecticut get to Orlando to participate in the Special Olympics USA Games. These athletes’ courage, dedication and teamwork are an inspiration to us all. We can’t wait to welcome the team aboard and cheer them on in the days ahead.”

The Connecticut athletes will attend the Special Olympics USA Games to compete in individual and Unified team sports including basketball, track & field, swimming and gymnastics, as well as participate in a Youth Leadership Experience.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “Special Olympics athletes are the pride of Connecticut, competing and representing our state at both the national and global level. For years, I’ve been honored to attend ceremonies and competitions where I’ve experienced first-hand the skill and determination of these talented, inspirational athletes. I couldn’t be more excited to support them as they take on the USA Games. I know Team Connecticut will make us proud.”

During this magical week, more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean will travel to Florida to unite in one of the country’s most cherished sporting events. The USA Games is hosted once every four years and showcases 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports and 30 events throughout the week including forums and VIP receptions. https://www.2022specialolympicsusagames.org/

U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLaurosaid, “Supporting the Special Olympics has always been incredibly important to me. It has touched so many lives across Connecticut. This is a special moment that I am so honored to be a part of. I could not be more proud to join Team Connecticut’s sendoff here at Tweed Airport in New Haven and congratulate them on a hardfought journey. These athletes are the very best of Connecticut and demonstrate courage, strength, and are sharing their talent and gifts with the world. The Special Olympics is a reflection of how we can achieve greatness no matter what challenges we face, and these games show us that we are all in this together. It teaches us to embrace overcoming obstacles, taking pride, celebrating teamwork, and encouraging human equality. On this team, we are lifting up our loved ones, neighbors, classmates, and colleagues – I am so excited to see Team Connecticut compete at the 2022 Special-Olympics USA Games!”

In addition to flying Team Connecticut, Avelo will support Special Olympics Connecticut as a Gold Sponsor of its Summer Games which begin today at Fairfield University and Southern Connecticut State University. In addition to sponsoring the Summer Games, Avelo Crewmembers (employees) will volunteer at the event, which draws participants from across the state for a weekend of competition in track & field, swimming, soccer, tennis and cycling.

Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, “Tweed New Haven Airport is thrilled to play a role in this great effort by Avelo to support Team Connecticut and our incredible athletes participating in the Special Olympics USA Games. These men and women have made — and will continue to make – our state incredibly proud. I’m thankful for Avelo for their partnership at Tweed, and for their continued support of the residents and communities of Connecticut.”

Avelo serves 14 nonstop destinations from HVN. The airline began service from Tweed last November and offers more nonstop destinations from Connecticut than any other airline operating in the state.

About Avelo Airlines 

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose — to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 27 popular destinations across the U.S., including its three bases at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). For more information visit AveloAir.com. or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom. 

About Special Olympics Connecticut 

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners – their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. More information is available at www.soct.org.  

Special Olympics Connecticut Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto’s Inc., Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Raytheon Technologies and WWE. Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.