United Airlines collaborated with the Chicago Bears today at O’Hare International Airport to show their support for Special Olympics, Inc. Cole Kmet, the Tight End for the Chicago Bears, joined the airline’s Special Olympics Service Ambassadors to raise awareness about the organization’s travel requirements.
United Airlines introduced the Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) Program in 2019, which involved inviting Special Olympics athletes to work as part-time employees in airports. These employees assist United customers by guiding them to check-in kiosks, helping them with bag drop-offs, and directing them to TSA PreCheck lines.
In addition to these tasks, SOSAs also aid travelers with navigation, gate recovery, and provide assistance through Agent on Demand services. Currently, there are 18 SOSA workers stationed at United hubs in Chicago, Houston, Denver, and Washington, D.C., with plans for further expansion in Los Angeles and San Francisco later this year. United has also been actively involved in sponsoring Special Olympics Plane Pull competitions, supporting local volunteer events, and participating in the Special Olympics World Games on a global scale.
In the previous year, a total of 4,000 individuals including Special Olympics athletes, coaches, Unified partners, and staff from North America embarked on journeys across the nation and worldwide.
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