Special Olympians from Thunder Bay may find it a little easier to cover their travel costs to events in other parts of the province.
On Wednesday Special Olympics Ontario announced a $25,000 travel fund will be created, a legacy of the Winter Games held in Thunder Bay in 2011.
Special Olympics Ontario president and CEO Glenn MacDonell said travel is always an issue for athletes living in Northwestern Ontario, which is why the grant was put in place. It’s already started to pay dividends, he added.
“As an example, St. Pat’s was in our high school competition most recently and that’s really a legacy of those Games,” MacDonell said.
“Transportation is always such an inhibitor. The Games come and go so quickly, so if there isn’t a legacy that comes off those Games, so the public says, ‘That’s really good and I’m glad we hosted those Games,’ everybody would stop doing them tomorrow.”
Track and field athlete Heidi Kruger, who leaves next week for the Special Olympic Summer Games in York Region, said the travel grant is fantastic.
“It makes me feel awesome and wonderful that they could do that for us,” she said.
Kruger, who will take part in the 60-metre run, the shot-put and the long jump, said she can’t wait for the competition to begin.
“It means alot to me. I’ve been training hard for the past for the past five years,” she said. “I’m just excited about going down there. It’s been something I’ve been dreaming of since I moved into town about five years ago.”
The Summer Games, which include soccer, softball, track and field, golf and rhythmic gymnastics, take place from July 11-14.
