Western Campus Recreation is Changing the Game Through Belonging
London, ON - The easygoing energy of pickup basketball resonates through two half-courts in the Western Student Recreation Centre. Laughter and chatter burst sporadically amid percussive bouncing, mixed in with the 'thwonk' of rebounds off the backboard and cheers celebrating another basket.
While the games bring out the usual hustle, they also present an unusual roster – participants with intellectual disabilities competing alongside Western students on the same teams. They're playing Unified Basketball, an initiative of Special Olympics Ontario to foster social inclusion, respect and friendship through sport.
Western is home to the longest-running Unified Basketball program in Canada, and its momentum is energizing participants to expand Unified Sports.
"My biggest hope is to build a country-wide movement where inclusion is the starting point," said Jenna Smith, a Sports & Recreation staff member who runs Western's Unified Basketball Program.
Smith is a part of the Campus Recreation team and brought Unified to Western in 2018 as a one-day tournament. Interest was strong enough to start offering Unified Basketball as an intramural sport in 2019. Since then, students including varsity Western Mustangs, Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities in the London, Ontario area have been playing every Sunday over the fall and winter terms.
Unified Basketball program fosters meaningful participation
Over the last two years, Kristov Loebus has attended about 20 times. His mom, Jennifer Shields, said he's eager to show up and especially enjoys the companionship of peers – an opportunity some young adults with disabilities struggle to find. 
Kristov Loebus (right) finds more than an athletic outlet in Western's Unified Basketball program - he's discovered a welcoming community. (Colleen MacDonald/Western News)
"The environment helps Kristov feel good about himself and gives him the kind of socializing with nice people that we all need. Plus, he gets in 90 minutes of cardio."
Unified Basketball also helped Western PhD student Marcus Nandu find a community when he was a shy undergrad in 2019. "At first, I was just looking for a way to get involved at Western. I kept coming back because I loved the relationships I was building with the other people here."
By his second year, Nandu was helping Smith run the program. Soon after, Unified Sports changed the course of his life. "When I started undergrad, I was focused on medical school with only a side interest in disability and sport," he said. "My love for this program shifted my perspective, so now it's the basis of my PhD research."
Nandu's dissertation projects examine how Unified Sports programs can effectively foster belonging and sustain long-term participation. "I've been doing this long enough to see a trend – people who feel like they belong keep showing up, and when they show up consistently, they build the strong connections that make this such a powerful program. Over the years, I've seen many Special Olympics athletes grow their confidence and social skills, and that experience isn't limited to them. After a while, I could see my own growth in those skills and in leadership, too." said Nandu, student organizer, Western's Unified Basketball Program.
Marcus Nandu (left, organizer) and Samantha Masters (right, athlete) play on the court.
This fall, Nandu starts his fourth year of a combined PhD and Master's in physical therapy. He hopes his research will serve as a blueprint for expanding inclusive sports across Canada and fostering stronger communities. "Inclusion is an important facet of community-building," he said. "If we can understand what specific aspects of a successful unified sports program build an enduring, inclusive environment, then we can adapt them everywhere."
Participants say Unified Sports, where everyone contributes and feels valued, brings a different kind of reward than highly competitive sports. Shared experiences, skill development and social bonds are prioritized over winning.
"Everyone is happy to be there and engages with each other," Smith said. "When you walk out of the gym, you feel like it was the best time of your week."
New opportunities emerge from Western's Unified Basketball program
With Western's Unified Basketball program thriving, Special Olympics Ontario contacted Smith recently to present a new opportunity – a three-on-three (3x3) women's Unified Basketball tournament hosted by Special Olympics Indiana from August 4 to 7, 2025. Although the 3x3 format isn't part of local Special Olympics programming, Western worked with the organization to pull a team together. They are the only Canadian team participating in the international tournament.
Smith recruited Nate McKibbon, coach of the Western women's varsity basketball team, to lend his expertise as coach and familiarize players with the 3x3 format and rules. Special Olympics London selected three of its women's basketball players for the team, including Samantha Masters who plays in Western's unified intramural program. Their teammates are Western students Emily Ferenczy, a recent kinesiology grad, and Natalie Rondilla, in her fifth year of health sciences.
"Nate and I selected Emily and Natalie to recognize their dedication to Unified Basketball at Western, and how well they understand the program," Smith said. "We're so excited to bring all these athletes to Indiana to compete with teams from across the U.S. and the Caribbean." 
Emily Ferenczy (far right) holds basketball out for participants
The Unified program is also about building community connections. London Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) members came out to support the team in their final practice, helping them prepare for their upcoming competition. "As always, they went above and beyond to participate in our program and build meaningful connections with our athletes and Unified partners. We appreciate the ongoing support they have shown our Unified program over the years." Smith told us. 
Unified 3x3 basketball team and London Law Enforcement Torch Fun (LETR) members pose on the court with Jenna Smith (far left, organizer) and Nate McKibbon (coach, far left).
The team's participation in the tournament continues Western's longstanding connection to Special Olympics. In May 2026, Western will host the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial School Championships, the flagship event of the Unified Champion Schools program that builds inclusive schools through sport.
Unified Sport builds skills for all participants
Smith and Nandu are eager to see Unified Sports become staples in all post-secondary institutions to normalize inclusion and lead to more friendship and understanding among people with and without intellectual disabilities. Smith says the Western program's seven-year run has also offered student players valuable experiential learning that complements their academic programs.
"Each of our athletes communicates and interacts in a different way, so students learn how to adapt their communication style to connect with each player one on one. They also learn how to navigate interactions with parents and caregivers. It's a rich experience that helps advance their personal and professional development." said Smith.
Shields is thankful that Western students are helping Kristov grow through Unified Basketball. She is encouraged by their commitment to the regular weekly schedule, even during exam weeks. "The university students are admirable," she said. "The parents here really appreciate the gifts of their time and skills they give to their Special Olympian peers."
Smith reflects on her time with the Unified program with deep gratitude - for the meaningful relationships it has fostered and the inclusive community it continues to build. Looking ahead, she's excited about the future of Unified at Western and the broader impact it's having across Campus Recreation. "We see how these programs have a positive impact on all the participants and organizers, so we are looking for new ways we can offer accessible programming in our spaces." Initiatives like the new Inclu-Swim program are just the beginning of a growing commitment to adaptive and inclusive recreation on campus.
Associated Western News Article: Unified Basketball at Western fosters belonging and growth - Western News
