Athlete’s speech touches hearts at reception
VIP guests, athletes and sponsors were welcomed at the Mount Community Centre for a VIP reception Tuesday afternoon to say thanks for all the behind-thescenes work for the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships.
“It seems like just yesterday when the City of Peterborough hosted the 2004 provincial spring games,” said city police Chief Murray Rodd.
Rodd was one of many speakers at the reception, including Ray Walt, the community coordinator for Special Olympics Peterborough, who was the master of ceremonies.
Walt reminded everyone that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics. Soldier Field in Chicago hosted the first international Special Olympic games in 1968.
Mayor Daryl Bennett told the reception the Special Olympics are special for many reasons. One reason is how the games allow for young athletes who lost hope—gain that hope back.
“You should always walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” Bennett said.
Glenn Macdonell, president and CEO of Special Olympics Ontario, said the games are not just for high school athletes. Special Olympics Ontario has athletes as young as two and as old as 80, he explained.
Macdonell was thrilled to announce that Via Rail, a key sponsor for Special Olympics, is provicing funding to send 1,000 of the athletes from Ontario to the world Special Olympic games featuring teams from all over the world.
Lisa Butler, a local Peterborough athlete who started with Special Olympics in 1997 through swimming, also spoke at the reception.
Eventually she started to play other sports, such as cross-country skiing and track and field. Butler just finished winning bronze and gold in cross-country skiing, an event she participates in as a member of Team Ontario.
In July she will be representing Ontario in the provincial games hosted in Nova Scotia. Butler will be participating in five track and field events.
The Special Olympics gave her a new family, she said.
“My Special Olympic teammates and coaches are like my family, we look out for each other, cheer each other on and celebrate our success.”
Attendees at the VIP reception were touched by Butler’s story.
Two volunteers, Kacee Quinlan and Megaen Glaeser, welcomed guests into the community centre. T
hey are also two Special Olympic athletes who play for Ontario on the soccer team.
Another volunteer, Jane Bleecker, was with the girls helping welcome guests.
Bleecker is a family friend of Quinlan and said her favourite part about being a close friend to the Quinlan family is going to the games and cheering the kids on.
“It is a hoot to watch them and get so excited when they score a goal. They learn sportsmanship and what a team means,” Bleecker said.
The opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships were then held Tuesday night at the Memorial Centre. Competitions take place Wednesday at venues throughout the city. More than 1,000 student athletes and 300 volunteers are taking part.