Groundwork has begun to re-establish sporting events programming for Shuswap residents under the guidance of Special Olympics BC.
Last month, Leslie Thornley, regional community development manager with BC Special Olympics, organized a public meeting in Salmon Arm to see what interest there is in the area to establish a volunteer board that could oversee the provision Special Olympics BC athletics programming for intellectually challenged individuals.
The mandate of Special Olympics BC, a non-government organization, is to provide individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to enrich their lives and celebrate personal achievement through sport experiences.”
Thornley says a volunteer board existed in Salmon Arm about three years ago that oversaw Special Olympics BC programming. It catered to about 35 athletes. Over time, however, it became a struggle to keep the board going and so the program was eventually put on hiatus.
“In the past they had bowling and swimming there, but we have 18 sports that are sanctioned by Special Olympics Canada, so we have seven winter sports that we could be doing and 11 summer sports,” Thornley explained. “Once we get a local board, like a local co-ordinator, a secretary treasure… all the nuts and bolts of what the administration looks like, then we’ll look at what are the facilities in Salmon Arm, and put a call out for coaches.”
Programming would be open to residents of the Shuswap area, including Sicamous, provided they can get to the program.
“There’s certainly things like bocce and curling with teams of four, and individual sports like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, track and field, golf – those are all individual sports and, quite frankly, if you have one athlete and one coach, that’s a program. That child is worth running it for.”
Anyone wanting more information can contact Thornley at 250-317-1272.