Local athletes ready to represent Canada
JorDen Tyson has her sights set on gold after training rigorously for four years to compete in figure skating.
She is one of six Calgarians competing in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
They are part of Team Canada, which consists of 110 athletes competing in floor hockey, figure skating, speedskating, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
“One of the big differences with these athletes is the effort and the heart,” said Calgary coach Holly Burton. “They are there because they want to be there, so that makes them fun to work with and easy to coach.”
Burton, alongside coach Barb Prystai, will travel to Austria in two weeks with Calgary competitors Katie Saunders, Sarah McCarthy, Shane Stewart, Benjamin Maeseele, Elouise Stewart and Tyson.
This is the second time the games have been held in Austria. The first was in 1993 for the fifth World Games.
The Special Olympics began 25 years earlier, in 1968, and now includes more than 4.5 million athletes in 170 countries, staging more than 108,000 yearly events worldwide. The organization welcomes people with intellectual disabilities to feel the transformative power of sport.
“Though sports, we showcase the skills and dignity of our athletes,” said Kathy Urquhart, the executive director of Special Olympics Calgary.
“Sports are a powerful force. They can switch the focus from disability to ability, from isolation to involvement,” she said.
This is the third time McCarthy will attend the Worlds. She is competing in cross-country skiing.
“I’ve been training hard,” said McCarthy. “I’m most excited to do my best and have fun.”
One of her favourite aspects of competing is meeting athletes from other countries.
She said she isn’t nervous but excited for the opportunity.
Similarly, figure skater Maeseele said, “I am most excited to meet other competitors who have made it this far.”
He’s also excited to see other performances and how athletes move with their music.
Many people will attend the games, including Calgary police Sgt. Katrina O’Reilly, who will carry the Special Olympics torch known as the “Flame of Hope.”
Police officers bring the torch to local, national and international competitions to raise awareness for the Games and its athletes.
The Calgary police are longtime
Sports are a powerful force. They can switch the focus from disability to ability, from isolation to involvement.
supporters of the Special Olympics, raising more than $500,000 last year for the organization.
“To be able to go and support them is just a really, really awesome experience,” said O’Reilly.
She will be joining almost 100 officers from countries around the world to participate in a 10day torch run through 50 cities in Austria starting March 9.
The Special Olympics seeks to extend beyond the boundaries of sports and empower individuals in their day-to-day lives.
“We know the odds our athletes must overcome, the barriers we see everyday,” said Urquhart. “Their stories and successes inspire us all.”
The Special Olympics run from March 14 to 25.