BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THIS morning (Dec. 3) the Special Olympics management and athletes, along with special education students, teachers and well-wishers marched through the streets of Basseterre signalling the end of its annual Week of Activities (Nov. 24-30).
The procession was led by a drum cops with a banner at the forefront, which included the theme: ‘On The Move Utlizing Sport for the holistic development of the Special Olympics Athletes’.
“I AM UNIQUE” and “I’VE BEEN GOOD ALL YEAR” were some of the messages creatively displayed on placards sported by some participants of the march.
The march climaxed at the Independence Square where the children excitedly jumped and danced to the up-tempo rhythm of the drummers.
National Director of the Special Olympics Committee Clarice Cotton disclosed to this media house that “we wanted to have a march to raise awareness because we have been quiet” with no function held since September this year.
She shared that the athletes are called “special” because their intellectual capacity is different compared to others, because they do not read and write as well as they do.
Cotton went on to say that the “whole aim”, however, is to get them to participate in sports to achieve the physical training and get the joy of competing and also winning.
She informed that the North America Games would be held in 2014 and World Games in the following year.
A contingent from St. Kitts-Nevis is expected to compete.
Cotton also informed that plans are on the front burner for fundraiser events in order to finance attendance at the overseas games.
She added that fundraising activities would include a Christmas Concert to be held this month and also a dollar Drive, which is expected to be launched shortly.
The Special Olympians travelled to Greece last year and returned with seven medals including two silvers.
Cotton said that games played by the athletes include table tennis, bocce, athletics and swimming.
SKNVibes also spoke with Special Olympics Coach Sylvester Dore.
He was asked to comment on the attitude of the athletes during training sessions.
Dore said when it comes to training, just like with regular athletes whom he had dealt with, at times there are those who do not want to put in the hard work and those who, after a couple minutes of training, want to sit out.
He explained that as a coach, his responsibility is to motivate and encourage sports trainees to get up and participate.
Dore said he tries to make the sessions fun and very instructive.
According to him, training is very important, more so with the special Olympians, because of their disability and therefore more practice is needed so that they could be more efficient at a particular sport.
He said when the athletes perform and also when they compete with their peers and realise that they could win, they do get a sense of accomplishment.
Dore highlighted that for the Special Olympics Committee, emphasis is not on winning but rather having a good attitude towards sportsmanship in “what they can achieve”.
Such an emphasis on sportsmanship, he explained, is different compared to regular sports where the objective is to basically “win at all cost”.
As an example, Dore said that even if the special athletes finish a race last, he or she comes in sporting a “big smile” just knowing the fact that they did their best and finished the event, and “that’s what it’s all about”.
Dore informed that the Special Olympics’ oath is: “Let Me Win But If I Cannot Win Let Me Be Brave In The Attempt.”
