Penticton athlete Kevin Ellis on the first day of competition at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea.
Image Credit: SOBC via Facebook
February 22, 2014 - 8:26 AM
KAMLOOPS — As the nation remains glued to televised Team Canada events happening at the 2014 Olympic Games, a team from Special Olympics B.C. is busy planning the 2015 Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games, set to take place in Kamloops next February.
More than 600 athletes from across the province will compete in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating from Feb. 20-21 with the opening ceremonies kicking off the games Feb. 19.
“It’s impossible to see Special Olympics Games and not be inspired. Kamloops will be inspired by these determined athletes, by their sportsmanship and love of their sports, and by the dedicated coaches and volunteers who give them so much support and confidence,” said Lois McNary, SOBC Vice President of Sport. “Special Olympics Games put our athletes in the spotlight to show all that they can do. We hope Kamloops will join us to make that happen next February.”
Athletes will be competing for gold and the chance to advance to the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Newfoundland and from there could advance to the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.
It has been 12 years since the provincial Special Olympics games have been in Kamloops and both the city and the school district are providing support to help ensure the success of the event. Kamloops was one of the first B.C. Communities to start offering Special Olympics programs, back in 1983.
More than 1,000 volunteers will be needed and you can get involved by contacting McNary at 888-854-2276 or by email at lmcnary@specialolympics.bc.ca.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014