Local athletes compete in London
Posted Jul 13, 2010 11:49:04 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nineteen athletes from Waterloo region and Guelph will compete in the Special Olympics 2010 National Summer Games kicking off in London tonight.
Dr. Darwin Semotiuk, a Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario, tells 570 News that medals are nice for the 1,400 participants, but building friendship, and integrating into the community are equally important at the Games.
Semotiuk says the economic impact for London for hosting such a large event is estimated at roughly $8-million.
And he says the people of London have been incredibly welcoming, with 750 volunteers coming forward. They only needed 500 to put on the Games.
Semotiuk says it’s especially nice to have the Games back where they started: Dr. Frank Hayden at Western was doing some research on the benefits of physical activities on the intellectually challenged, and it sparked the idea for the Special Olympics.
Semotiuk says the athletes range in age from 8 years old to their 60’s, with an even split between male and female, and come from all across the country.
Athletes will compete in eight sports; swimming, track & field, 5 pin bowling, 10 pin bowling, power lifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer and softball.
The National Games is a qualifier for Special Olympics athletes to compete at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
