Charlestown, Nevis - Dozens of curious onlookers lined the streets of Charlestown yesterday as a combination of St.Kitts and Nevis Special Olympians and officials marched from down town Charlestown to the Elquemedo Tonito Willet Park.
Chairman of the Board of Directors for the St.Kitts-Nevis Special Olympics, Lloyd Lazar was pleased with the turn out of the athletes, teachers and the parents. He also expressed thanks for the support they received from the onlookers as they marched through Charlestown.
He explained that the march was part of a week of activities celebrating Special Olympics which had as its theme: “Special Olympics—much more than just sport’. He indicated that the week of activities was geared towards the marketing of the Special Olympics program. “It also serves to promote a degree of self confidence in the mentally challenged young people so that they can make a significant contribution to the welfare of the society and that other people will learn to respect them as they learn to respect themselves as well’, he noted.
He also indicated that two representatives of Special Olympics Connecticut were also involved in the march and had singed an agreement at the Marriott Hotel between the Connecticut based organization and their St.Kitts-Nevis partners which signified their commitment to provide financial and other support for the St.Kitts-Nevis based organization.
Present at the march were: Robert Dockherty –President of Special Olympics in Connecticut and Ms Joyce N’gala-member of the board of Special Olympics in Connecticut.
Mr. Docherty in an address at the ETW Park, at the culmination of the march, noted that assistance will also come in the form of exchange programs between the two organizations, as parents, Teachers and athletes will be able to make trips to Connecticut all in an effort to enhance the development of the special athletes.
Randolph Boddie, the person in charge of Special Olympics in Nevis, noted that the march was the only activity for the week to be done in Nevis but stated that his athletes are already in training for the upcoming National games which will determine which athletes will represent St.Kitts-Nevis in the World Special Olympics slated for Greece next year.
The event will be held at the Silver Jubilee Stadium in St.Kitts but Boddie is hopeful that the newly introduced Tennis tournament will be held in Nevis.
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