The 2011 Special Olympics summer games were great fun Cameron Bennett.
He said he has some really nice coaches and he met lots of friends while taking part in the athletic events. The Stephenville Special Olympian competed in running, shotput and standing long jump during the meet and said he loved competing and taking part in the different sports.
For the first time ever, the Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Championships were hosted in Stephenville by the Bay St. George team and supported by the Knights of Columbus.
Denise Alexander said when he daughter Michaela Alexander first got involved in the fall of 2009, she shied away from the other participants.
However, within six months she was participating in all the Monday evening activities and on the weekend competed in shotput, long jump and the 100- and 200-metre running races.
"This is really exciting for Michaela as it's her first time competing,” said Ms. Alexander. “But the biggest thing is the social aspect, as she loves to socialize and be with people. This competition being so many people together, all with different types of disabilities.”
She estimated an age range of about 13 to 49 years all competing together, which makes it exciting for everyone.
Ms. Alexander said her daughter, who requires a high level of care, will be competing in future competitions if she's able to go with her.
Check out the Georgian's slideshow of the Special Olympics - Click on the link at the bottom of the story.
She said the weekend competition was very well organized and praised coach, organizer and all-around sport enthusiast Rosemary Ryan-Forsey in particular.
"I believe in giving praise where praise is due," she said.
Ms. Alexander hopes that if there are others in the community who could take advantage of being involved in Special Olympics but aren't, that they would come forward. She noted there was even wheelchair competition during the weekend event.
Sherry Norman, whose son Joshua Harper was competing in swimming, also had high praise for the events at the Regional Aquatic Centre and the track facilities at Stephenville High School.
"It's really exciting. I think our town needed to bring the Special Olympics here. While Joshua went away to compete before, he and fellow Special Olympians can see it can be done here as well," she said.
Ms. Norman said her son has really grown from being involved in this and you can see the pride he takes in himself because of it.
"Competing with their counterparts is great fun and I know Joshua really enjoys the social part of it," she said.
Click here to check out some of the local athletes at the competition.
