THUNDER BAY – Athlete’s stepping off planes from across the country got a hero’s welcome as they arrived in Thunder Bay for this week’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Supporters, including the games’ passionate cheer squad, were on hand to cheer athletes from three provincial teams at the Thunder Bay airport Sunday evening.
The games, which will see athletes with intellectual disabilities compete across eight sports, kick off Tuesday and conclude Saturday.
Adam Lloyd, a veteran on Manitoba’s floor hockey team, said the enthusiastic greeting he and his teammates received was a display of the camaraderie the games are all about.
“The warm welcome we just got from the Ontario guys is mind-blowing,” he said. “This is what we do it for, and this is why we have guys who have been doing it for years.”
Lloyd himself has competed across four national winter games, and was selected as a member of Team Canada in the 2017 world games held in Austria. He says he’s looking forward to connecting with old friends from past winter games. But once the whistle blows, Lloyd said, things get serious – especially since these games help decide the athletes who will be selected for national teams.
“You can have friends, but once it’s game time, it’s game time – the friendship goes away,” he explained. “You’re there to do a job, you’re there to compete. Everybody’s fighting for that spot, and everybody has a chance. That’s what we’re all here for.”
Lloyd was bullish on his team's chances in the competition, but expects fierce competition from Ontario, B.C., and Quebec in particular.
Barry Streib, chair of the organizing committee for the games, said the arrival of the athletes made it all feel real, after years of planning and preparation. Athletes from the remaining provinces and territories will filter into the city throughout Monday.
Streib met with Special Olympics leadership earlier on Sunday, and said organizers are feeling confident, with everything in place for a successful week of games.
“There weren’t a lot of questions from them, and that means we’re well-prepared – and we are,” he said.
The opening ceremonies for the games are already booked to capacity, while games throughout the week are free to attend on a first-come, first-serve basis. The opening ceremonies can be livestreamed at the games’ website, where more information and a full schedule can also be found.
