Sheehan returning to World Winter Games
P.E.I. administrator to lead Team Canada in Sweden
Special Olympics Prince Edward Island executive director Charity Sheehan is a self-described “Games junkie.”
She’s been involved with Special Olympics P.E.I. for more than 20 years, first as a volunteer, then program director and she now leads the chapter. She’s attended countless provincial and national Games, as well as three Special Olympics World Games. That total will soon increase to four when she serves as chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada at the 2021 World Winter Games in Sweden from Feb. 6 to 12.
“The chef position has always been on my radar,” Sheehan said.
While the World Games are “long days and short nights,” it’s an experience she loves.
“Games are just so dynamic, so fun,” she said. “It’s where you really see the culmination of what you do in your little chapter, in our case in P.E.I., on the world stage and how you’re connected to the bigger movement.”
Sheehan primarily sees the chef role as a support person for every team member.
“What I want to accomplish out of this is to ensure everyone has the tools necessary to have a successful run – whatever that means to them,” she said. “Anything they need to just grow as human beings and have a really fun journey as we get to Sweden and beyond.”
Individual and team growth – for both athletes and coaches – is her favourite part of the World Games.
“From when they get selected, to the World Games experience – there’s such a transformation,” she said.
One of Sheehan’s favourite Games moments was watching a snowshoe athlete come out of his shell at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Korea 2013. Throughout training camps and the leadup to the competition, the athlete kept to himself, often reading a book. When they arrived in Korea, many locals wanted to take pictures with him, because – at more than six-feet tall – he was “twice their size.”
At first, he was hesitant, but by the end of the trip, he was jumping in photos and making peace signs with the locals and trading pins with athletes from across the globe.
“He took that step outside his comfort zone and it wasn’t as scary as he perceived it to be and because of it he had just a wonderful experience – the culture and just socially,” Sheehan recalled.
Special Olympics Canada athletes will find out whether they qualify for Team Canada 2021 in the months following the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay 2020. Sheehan’s advice for those athletes is to “soak it all up” while adding: “It’s such an amazing experience – and it’s a scary experience for a lot of athletes – for a lot of coaches, too. Move outside of your comfort zone a little bit at a time.
“Don’t be scared of change – it’s going to occur, because it’s just such a phenomenal experience. Ask for help, enjoy the journey and have a ton of fun doing it.”