A wise person once proclaimed you have only one chance to make a first impression and it appears the City of Red Deer did a great job of that with the people which run Special Olympics Alberta.
Last week the cat was let out of the bag with the news Red Deer will be the host city for the 2013 Spring Games and it seems the reputation this City has for hosting big events was a key piece of the decision to award the games. We also seem to be a place where people with an intellectual disability are able to flourish.
“When I look at the Mayor’s Awards that I hand out every year I’m always thrilled that we have so many special Olympians and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said Mayor Morris Flewwelling . “That happens because so many people in this community make it a priority that we will have the special people in our community taking part.”
Another factor was the history this community has when it comes to getting people to volunteer their time in order for these events to run as smooth as possible.
These Games will be no exception as close to 300 people will be needed in order to make it work and Jerry Tennant, chair of the Games Organizing Committee already has a group of about 50 who have been hard at it for the past six months but he still needs more hands to assist.
More than 600 special Olympians will descend on our City for the Games which run from April 19-21 and they will compete in five and 10-pin bowling, swimming and basketball.
And make no mistake, these young men and women will tackle these four sports with as much energy and dedication as those athletes who found themselves in London this past summer.
For some of the participants the Games have taken them to the national and international stage in the past.
For example, Elliot Moskowy of Red Deer is one of the top swimmers in Alberta and was a winner of gold and silver medals at the 2011 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
Heritage Lanes, Riverside Bowl, the Michener Centre pool and Notre Dame High School are the venues for the sports and there is plenty of room at each for you the fan to come out and cheer these athletes to victory.
sports@reddeerexpress.com
