“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
With that oath in mind, Special Olympic athletes have been taking to fields, gymnasiums, pools and bowling alleys across the country since 1980, the year the organization was formed.
In Creston, dozens of athletes meet regularly to practice and compete in sports like bowling, swimming, soccer, floor hockey and, soon, gymnastics.
The groups range from small — three swimmers in the new program so far — to large — about 35 bowlers lace up their shoes each Tuesday at Borderline Bowling.
“The programs are completely dependent on volunteers,” said Cyra Frisk, who works as a community development manager for BC Special Olympics in the Kootenays. “If we can find volunteers to coach and help out in other ways, there are lots of programs available. A few people can make a program happen.”
Special Olympics is designed to accommodate athletes with a wide range of abilities.
Volunteer Cathy Chlopecki, who coaches along with her husband, Richard, said soccer is a good example.
“There are four-on-four games and a skills course,” she said. “Most of the athletes just want to participate in some way, but there is the opportunity to go all the way to the national competition.”
Reasons for volunteering vary. Often coaches are parents who want to make sure their daughters or sons have recreation and sports opportunities.
“We wanted to get our daughter involved,” volunteer Bridget Currie said before heading out onto the gym floor at Creston Education Centre to help out with the soccer practice.
After the soccer practice is over, a new group of athletes gets suited up for floor hockey — first a practice and then a scrimmage. Some have been playing for many years, and their skills show it. Steven Sterling takes a pass, rips the puck past the goaltender and into the top corner of the net, gives a quick fist pump and heads to the back of the line to await his next turn.
The always exuberant Kathy Schmidt, face red from the exertion of the effort she puts into everything she does, congratulates her teammates each time they make a good shot or pass. Schmidt’s mom, Shelagh, watches from the sidelines. A long-time coach of Special Olympics bowling, she is a familiar face at the bowling alley, where Schmidt and Sterling both excel.
The gymnasium takes on the same atmosphere it had for the thousands of floor hockey games that were played when the building was South Creston Elementary School. Cheers echo around the walls, some athletes are ready each time their turn comes up and others need some direction and encouragement to participate.
“How much fun is this?” Chlopecki asks rhetorically as she takes a quick break on the sideline.
Coaches who are new to Special Olympics aren’t just thrown into the role. Orientation sessions and training are provided at no cost.
“If someone is willing to make that kind of commitment of time and energy, it’s the least we can do for them,” Frisk said.
And volunteers aren’t needed only for coaching. A board of directors works behind the scenes to keep programs going, recruit coaches and assistants and arrange training, organize activities and generally ensure that the athletes have opportunities to get whatever it takes to keep them active and engaged.
“We have room for people of all ages and abilities to get involved as volunteers,” Chlopecki said. “Special Olympics is an important part of our community and it’s worth the effort to keep it going.”
For more information, call Cyra Frisk in Trail at 250-919-0757 or Creston’s local co-ordinator, Heather Vergie, 250-428-0730.