INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 30, 2012-- Building on the recent announcement of its new partnership with Special Olympics, The Finish Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL) and its Finish Line Youth Foundation announced today that more than 200 Finish Line employees from Indiana will volunteer onsite June 1 at the Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games.

On June 1, at Indiana State University, Finish Line employees will assist by activating and leading Special Olympics athletes through the new TRAIN program onsite at the Summer Games. Finish Line is serving as the first national sponsor of Special Olympics’ new TRAIN program—a first of its kind sports assessment and nutrition education program designed to help athletes stay active, stay healthy, and achieve their personal best. June 1 marks the first time Special Olympics athletes will experience the TRAIN program at the Indiana Summer Games.

“Finish Line is about celebrating the everyday achievements of athletes everywhere, and I can’t think of a better opportunity for our employees to put that into practice than on the playing field at the Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games,” said Finish Line Youth Foundation Executive Director Marty Posch. “Our employees are passionate about staying active and making a difference and this is the perfect opportunity to blend those two interests and make a difference in the lives of these incredible Special Olympics athletes.”

Mike Furnish, President and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana, believes the partnership with Finish Line is unique.

“Special Olympics Indiana has never had a sponsor like Finish Line, with employees so focused on getting involved as volunteers,” said Furnish. “We expect this partnership to set a new standard for ways a corporation can make a difference in their community.”

TRAIN-Special Olympics’ First National Effort to Collect and Track Data on Sports Skills among Those with Intellectual Disabilities

TRAIN (Testing Recreational Activities and Improving Nutrition) is a new sports assessment and nutrition education program developed by Special Olympics as one response to the fact that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to develop a sedentary lifestyle, yet have the same fitness capacities and needs as those without a disability. A TRAIN assessment takes place when Special Olympics athletes complete a variety of fun physical fitness challenges at designated stations, such as the 10-meter run, the vertical leap, and balance test. Each athlete’s results are captured and entered into a specially-designed computer program, which produces a report highlighting the strongest skills and pinpointing which sports the athlete may be most successful pursuing as well as skills that could be improved through regular, at-home exercise. The program also tracks data on each athlete to illustrate progress over time. TRAIN is the first comprehensive program Special Olympics has ever used to collect and track data on sports readiness skills among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is using the data from TRAIN events to develop new scientific norms and better advice for Special Olympics athletes and coaches as they work toward being more successful in their sport as well as more fit and healthy overall.

About The Finish Line, Inc.

The Finish Line, Inc. is a premium retailer of athletic shoes, apparel and accessories. Based in Indianapolis, Finish Line has more than 639 stores in malls across the United States, employing more than 11,000 associates who help customers every day connect with their sport, their life and their style. Online shopping is available at www.finishline.com and mobile shopping is available at m.finishline.com. Follow Finish Line on Twitter at Twitter.com/FinishLine and “like” Finish Line on Facebook at Facebook.com/FinishLineUSA.

The company also operates, through a venture with Gart Capital Partners, the Running Specialty Group, which has 19 specialty running shops in seven states, and the District of Columbia under The Running Company banner. More information is available at www.therunningcompany.net.

About The Finish Line Youth Foundation

Finish Line Youth Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, provides financial support for community-based youth athletic programs and camps for disadvantaged and special needs children across the United States. Since its inception in 1998, the Finish Line Youth Foundation—the philanthropic outlet for Finish Line—has helped build a legacy for all Finish Line employees and makes a difference for young people in the communities it serves. Throughout the past 14 years, the Finish Line Youth Foundation has granted more than $4.5 million to not-for-profit organizations that support its mission.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 4 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world, from community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard to World Games. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. Special Olympics continues to grow thanks in part to the support of global corporate sponsors including The Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble, Hilton Worldwide, Mattel and Lions Club International. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq, and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com

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Source: The Finish Line, Inc.

Finish Line
Alex Yovanovich, 317-613-6714
ayovanovich@finishline.com
OR
Special Olympics Indiana
Mike Furnish, 317-328-2010
mfurnish@soindiana.org