Forty athletes representing province at national Summer Games

Forty athletes are representing the province at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games which open Monday in Antigonish, N.S.

Newfoundland and Labrador will be competing in athletics, bocce, swimming, powerlifting, golf, soccer, and rhythmic gymnastics. Along with the 40 athletes, there are 13 coaches and eight mission staff.

The team has been training hard for the Games, a qualifying meet for the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“We are looking forward to some exciting head-to-head competition as the athletes demonstrate what Special Olympians can do when given the opportunity,” said Trish Williams, executive director of Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador.

“We are hopeful that Team NL will put athletes on the Canadian National Team.”

Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador will be hosting its provincial team send-off 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation at Memorial University.

Members of Team Newfoundland and Labrador off to the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games are:

Lucas Antle, Sarah Bursey, Taylor Hann, Floressa Harris, Michael Harris, Peter Hynes, Robert Moore, Tony Moores, Mary Ellen Murphy, Bradley Murphy, Johnny Philpott, Samanatha Walsh and Crystal Young of athletics, Sarah Brown, Ryan Drover, Joshua Gardner, Eleanor Hobbs, Tara Lundrigan, Tyler Oliver and Thomas Pelley of swimming, Zack Dean, Mary Head, Brianna Stansbury and Kristen Tibbo of bocce, Nick Chafe of golf, Daniel Moores of powerlifting, Megan Hounsell and Ava Walsh of rhythmic gymnastics and Nadia Brenton, Deon Cantwell, Shaughn Connors, Andrew Hynes, Eddie Hynes, Matthew Martin, Mike Mullaly, Mark Peddle, Jason Roche, Nick Styles, David Wells and Lyle Woodrow of soccer.