Photos: Kermit Taylor / Bahamas Athletics
|
On Saturday,
May 30th, Special Olympics Bahamas held their annual track &
field nationals at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium and organizers of the event
are once again, pleased with the results.
While we
believe that there are still several areas that can be improved upon to raise
the level of this event and enhance the overall experience for athletes and
coaches, we are satisfied that we are on the right track and we will continue
to do our best to make this event bigger and better. The event got underway
shortly after 9:30 am with the “parade of Athletes”, followed by the entrance
of the “Flame of Hope”, brought into the stadium by the law enforcement torch
runners (LETR) of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, who chanted words of
encouragement and motivation in unison as they made their run. Athletes from
each of the programs taking part in the day’s competition joined in the run for
a final lap around the track, before relinquishing the torch to the
Commissioner of Police Mr. Ellison Greenslade, who officially lit the games
torch, after which, he brought remarks to the athletes and spectators and
officially declared the games open.
Prominently
represented at these nationals were athletes from Special Olympics programs in
Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence, including a team from the Stapledon
School. Over 100 athletes competed for medals and position ribbons in the
traditional events such as the sprints and middle distance races, as well as
the standing long jump, the softball throw, the shot put, several short
distance walk events and of course, the 4x100 and 4x400m relays.
In July of
this year, Special Olympics Bahamas will send a team of athletes and coaches to
participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will be held in
Los Angeles, California. The Bahamas will be represented in the sports of
athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, open water swimming and tennis. Over 7,000
athletes from more than 170 countries are expected to participate in these
games, which will be the largest sports and humanitarian event to be held
anywhere in the world in 2015.
Special
Olympics is at its core, a sports organization that provides year round sports
training and competition in Olympic type sports for children and athletes with
intellectual disabilities (ID), and “…uses the power of sport as a catalyst for
social change”. Special Olympics Bahamas is volunteer driven and depends very
heavily on contributions and donations from individuals and corporate citizens
to run its program year round.
Persons
and/or organizations wishing to become volunteers and/or donate time or
financial resources to Special Olympics Bahamas, may contact the program’s
Nationa Director, Ms. Amanda Moncur at 4770304.
