The 2015 SOBC Winter Games in Kamloops Feb. 19 to 22 brought together more than 700 B.C. and Yukon athletes competing in seven sports and were a demonstration of true sportsmanship, dedication and joy.
SOBC-Vernon had six athletes participating in cross- country and alpine skiing, bringing home seven medals.
“Our athletes worked hard throughout the training season and demonstrated a strong will to learn and grow,” said Britta Gretzmacher, alpine skiing head coach. “The games were a tremendous success on all fronts, our athletes brought home two gold, two silver in alpine skiing and one silver and two bronze medals in cross-country skiing.”
While Special Olympics Games are about sport, achievement and pride, they are also about friendship, connections, acceptance and sportsmanship.
“It was inspiring to see how the athletes congratulated each other and that not the medal counted but the participation — everyone can learn from this,” said Gretzmacher.
Special Olympics BC – Vernon provides 14 high-quality sports programs for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities from September until July and is always looking for more participants, and volunteers to run their programs. Funding the programs is always a challenge; the upcoming Vernon Golf Spectacular on June 20 is this year’s major event. Please go to www.vernongolfspectacular.com for more information and to register.
For more information on the Special Olympics program and how to get involved, please go to www.sobcvernon.ca
