Special Olympians win medals at home and have fun while hosting provincials
A Special Olympics Nova Scotia (SONS) provincial competition is a chance to make new friends, renew old acquaintances and have fun competing in a variety of sports.
At the SONS provincial Winter Games held Feb. 20-22 at Camp Aldershot and other venues in the Eastern Valley, competition took place in five different sports – floor hockey, snowshoeing, curling, skiing and figure skating.
Close to 500 athletes, coaches and support staff took part in the event, coming from Yarmouth to Cape Breton.
A contingent of 41 – 32 athletes, seven coaches and two mission staff - from the Kings District took part in floor hockey, curling and showshoeing.
“It’s fun to host,” said Kings chef de mission Marty Arsenault. “It gives more local athletes a chance to compete, and we’re able to include some athletes who might not normally be able to travel or stay away overnight.”
The goal, Arsenault said, is to win, but to have fun while winning.
“We have fun and do as well as we can, and if we end up winning, it’s a bonus. As long as everybody enjoys themselves, that’s what matters,” she said.
Skylar Banks has been involved in Special Olympics at least 15 years.
“I love it,” he said. “You get to meet lots of new friends, and do lots of different sports.”
During his Special Olympics career, Banks has competed in swimming, track and field, ringette, floor hockey, snowshoeing – “practically everything they offer.”
This time around, Banks was doing snowshoeing – he was scheduled to do the 100, 200, 400 and 1,600 distances.
“Showshoeing is one of my favourites, along with ringette,” he said. “My goal is to qualify for nationals next year in Newfoundland. I’ll do my best. If I make it, great; if I don’t, I’ll know I tried my best.”
Steven Swinimer, a goalie on the Kings floor hockey team, has been involved in Special Olympics since 1998. He has done mainly soccer and ringette, and was doing floor hockey this time.
Asked what he likes about Special Olympics, Swinimer said, “I like meeting and making friends, and having fun. I like the competition, too. I’ve been to nationals three times, twice for soccer and once for ringette.”
Janice Turnbull is part of a Special Olympics family. Her husband, Scott, and their children are all involved. She has been coaching for at least 10 years, and this time, was coaching showshoeing.
“Our three athletes (Banks, Annette McCann and Kevin Thompson) have been training since the first of January,” she said. “We did dry land training at the Appledome in Berwick, and because there’s been lots of snow, we’ve been able to train outside as well.”
Turnbull likes the positive attitude of the athletes, and their determination to do the best they can.
“(Kings Special Olympics) is a very dynamic and dedicated organization. We have a lot of fun,” she said, and the district has had its share of provincial and even national success over the years.
“We’re always looking for volunteers. It’s nice to have some new blood every once in a while,” she added.
Also at the showshoeing venue was Bernie Thompson, who, for much of his 16 years’ involvement with Special Olympics, has been the district co-ordinator. This time around, though, he was “here as a parent,” watching his son Kevin compete.
“It’s different, but still fun,” Thompson said. “I can’t stop, or stay away. I just love being a part of it, and I pitch in and help wherever and whenever I can.”
Volunteering is at the heart of Special Olympics, in Nova Scotia in general and in Kings in particular.
Jack Balsor was one of a number of members of the Glooscap Curling Club acting as ice marshals or volunteering in other capacities during the curling competition.
“I’ve always volunteered for Special Olympics,” Balsor said. “In fact, our whole club volunteers, anytime they do curling. There’s never any shortage of volunteers, or any trouble finding them. We have the best volunteers in the Valley. All we have to do is ask.”
Balsor described Special Olympics as “a wonderful program.” Everybody, including the volunteers, “always has a lot of fun” every time a competition is hosted locally.
See a slideshow of photos from the Spe- cial Olympics provincial Winter Games at www.kingscountynews.ca.
Results of local competitors:
Floor hockey: gold Skylar Banks, snowshoeing: two bronze Kevin Thompson, snowshoeing: one gold, two silver, two bronze Annette McCann, snowshoeing: bronze Curling: silver and bronze
three
gold,
three