Special Olympians thrilled to be competing
Medals, memories embraced during provincial Winter Games
There's always an abundance of feel-good moments during Special Olympics and the first Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games since the COVID pandemic was no exception.
In fact, athletes, coaches, officials and spectators of the Games held in Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander celebrated the return to competition and represented this year's theme, Rise Again, at every opportunity. Voices were raised in support, arms hoisted in victory and spirits elevated in friendly competition.
The theme for this year's Games was the result of a contest among Special Olympians to develop a theme and logo. The theme was suggested by Leah McDonald, a CBS Brightstars Athlete Leader.
“I thought (it) would be a good theme because this is the first provincial games since the COVID shutdown,” she said in a post related to the Games on the Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador website.
“We have been without our sports for a long time, but are excited and ready to bounce back, rise to the occasion and compete.”
There were 11 submissions from eight Special Olympic athletes. Organizers were delighted with the outcome. Grand Falls-Windsor Deputy Mayor Mike Browne, who also chaired the host committee,
said there were 225 athletes and another 100 coaches and support staff making the events possible.
“It is a big boost for the economy as well with accommodations booked throughout the region,” he noted.
“We can't thank the volunteers enough,” he continued. “We had over 300 volunteers step up to ensure this was going to be a success. Grand Falls-Windsor is no stranger to hosting major sporting events and we were looking for people to step up and help out, and that's exactly what transpired … I couldn't be more proud of the volunteers … and not just from Grand Falls-Windsor because we had volunteers from Springdale, Badger Buchans, Bishop's Falls, Botwood, and of course Gander. An event like this warms everybody's heart, if you're fortunate enough to take part in it.”
Browne noted Grand FallsWindsor hosted the Games in 2019, the last time they were staged before COVID, but that year it was held over two weekends.
Margaret MacNeil of Grand Falls-Windsor is no stranger to Special Olympics Games, having attended seven times in various events, and at a number of locations.
“But, it's always more fun when its hosted in Grand Falls–Windsor,” she said.
MacNeil and her teammates who have represented the province at a national Special Olympics curling championship continued their winning ways, capturing another gold medal.
The weekend was a special one for MacNeil as, in addition to the gold medal, she celebrated her birthday and another national curling championship for her idol Brad Gushue.
Amid all that she said her favourite memories was finally getting together as a large group after pandemic shutdowns and getting reacquainted with friends she had made at some of her other events.
The Opening Ceremonies, in particular, was a time of reconnecting “and it felt good,” she told the Central Wire.
“It was a very exciting weekend and it was fun being around all the different sports, but the best time was in the school gym on Thursday night for the opening ceremonies,” she said.