THUNDER BAY – Carson Smith said Special Olympics have come a long way in half-a-century.
The 16-year-old St. Ignatius High School student on Monday helped law enforcement officials mark the milestone, 50 days ahead of the inaugural Invitational Youth Games in Toronto, which will see 60 athletes from Thunder Bay and another dozen from Dryden, participate in a variety of sporting activities.
“It also emphasizes the importance of including people with disabilities. It makes them feel good in the community,” the teenager said.
“I feel that’s very important, inclusion for everyone too. It improves their social status and makes them feel good about themselves.”
Smith addressed a crowd of fellow students and law enforcement officers at flag-raising ceremony on Monday outside the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Balmoral Street headquarters and said taking part in Special Olympics is a great way to make lifelong friends.
“That’s the truth. You meet other kids with disabilities who take part in sports and you share the exciting events they take part in. Meeting new friends is always good in everyone’s lives,” said Smith, who has taken part in soccer, basketball, baseball and skiing during his three-year involvement with Special Olympics.
“I like how it includes people like me who play sports for fun and introduces me to so many great people … They’re all amazing people who just let us be ourselves and I thank them for that.”
One of those volunteers is Keith Nutley, a conservation officer with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry who helps run the school championship program in Thunder Bay high schools.
Nutley said there will be teams from around the world coming to Toronto in May, adding it’s a great chance for the athletes to expand their horizons competing either in the unified division, alongside mainstream athletes, or the traditional competitions.
“It’s once in a lifetime,” he said.
Honouring 50 years of Special Olympics is a way to showcase just how important the organization is in communities across Ontario, but more importantly, to the athletes and their families. He said locally, participation rates have grown phenomenally since 2011, when the city hosted the provincial Winter Games.
Next year Thunder Bay will host the Canadian Special Olympics Winter Games.
“With us hosting the 2020 national Winter Games, our Special Olympics community is going to grow even more,” Nutley said.
