By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Halfway through the battle with the Lewiston Bengals tonight, the Timberwolves will be bringing some local friends onto the home court.

As part of the Special Olympic Idaho's Unified Sports Program, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities will engage in a quick basketball scrimmage during the Lake City High School boys game to showcase and help grow the Unified Sports program in North Idaho.

Unified Sports was inspired by a simple principle: "Training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding."

"It's all about inclusion," said Jann Kinnard, one of the event organizers.

About 16 Special Olympic co-eds will participate in the scrimmage, which will begin with a parade of athletes.

"I believe that everybody has a connection to someone with special needs in their family," said Kinnard, who is a Special Olympics mom. "Sports is a great vehicle to experience teamwork, acceptance, energy and just friendships. Special Olympics has Project Unify, which really incorporates the non-special needs to be role models and play alongside those with disabilities, and the school is such a key place for this to happen."

Special Olympics officials will also be announcing upcoming events for its Coeur d'Alene Eagles Team, and the school will be promoting the Green Dot anti-violence program.

Laurie La Follette, CEO of Special Olympics Idaho, and Dallas Leatham, vice president of operations of Special Olympics Idaho, will be traveling from Boise to attend this event. They will be in the library and commons area to take questions about the program beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The boys game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.

LCHS is located at 6101 N. Ramsey Road.