A skier takes part in the Special Olympics BC Winter Games 2015.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Special Olympics BC Winter Games
February 19, 2019 - 3:00 PM
VERNON - Hundreds of athletes are set to gather in Vernon this week for the 2019 Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games.
Nearly 600 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in eight different sports in various locations around Greater Vernon from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23.
Venues around Vernon will showcase the figure skating, speed skating, curling and floor hockey events, while Silver Star Mountain Resort will host alpine and slalom skiing. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing will take place at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. The winter games will also hold five-pin bowling events taking place at Lincoln Lanes.
Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games organizing committee chair Glenn Benischek told iNFOnews.ca the games are a "life highlight" for the athletes that take part in the event.
"It gives [participants] so much value, accomplishment, and validity for everything they are doing in life. An event like this allows them to get out and compete and really show that they are an athlete," said Benischek.
The open ceremony takes place Thursday, Feb. 21 at Kal Tire Place between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets to the opening ceremony and all the events are free of charge.
The ski events at Silver Star take place on the Dig Dipper Run and spectators will have to purchase a lift pass, and ski or snowboard the event to watch. All the other runs at Silver Star will be open as usual.
Special Olympics B.C. was founded in 1980 and launched the winter games in 1991.
For more information and a schedule of events go here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019