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Kamloops News

Special Olympics looking for volunteers

Penticton athlete Kevin Ellis competes at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea.
Image Credit: SOBC via Facebook

GET A HEAD START ON YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

KAMLOOPS - The Winter Games are coming to Kamloops and the organizing committee is looking for nearly 1,000 volunteers to help the February event run smoothly.

Marilyn McLean says only about 80 volunteers have signed up for the games so far, well short of the number needed in various capacities. Security, food servers and general volunteers are among the positions that still need to be filled.

“We really do need volunteers for the Winter Games,” she says. “I haven’t talked to anyone who has volunteered who hasn’t enjoyed it. It’s a great New Year’s resolution, you can give back to the community in a great way.”

Events will take place at Sun Peaks and in Kamloops. When it comes to winter sports local athletes will only be competing in snowshoe, floor hockey and curling events.

“It’s really exciting for our own athletes to compete in their hometown area,” McLean says. “It’s also a good chance for them to experience other sports.”

In total about 600 athletes and 200 volunteer coaches will be in Kamloops for the Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games, running Feb. 19-21. Events will include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.

McLean says having this event in Kamloops will help raise awareness for the sports as well.

“It really raises awareness for what these athletes can do,” she says. “And they do it for all the right reasons. They are competing for the joy of it.”

Athletes will also be competing for the chance to attend the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Newfoundland, where athletes will then look to qualify for the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria.

There is no minimum time commitment to volunteer, whether you can spare two hours or two full days. To sign up as a volunteer visit the Winter Games website of contact the Kamloops Sports Council office.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014
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