Image credit: B.C. Special Olympics

By Earl Seitz

Special Olympics

Kamloops Special Olympic athletes eager to get back to sports, social interaction.

Feb 11, 2021 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The restrictions triggered by COVID-19 have had a wide ranging impact on sport at all levels.

For Kamloops Special Olympic athletes it has put a halt to their games, and the social health that means so much to the athletes.

Special Olympics Kamloops has anywhere from 125 to 150 athletes, plus coaches and support in a range of up to 18 different sports through the summer and winter seasons. The restrictions have led to a complete shutdown.

“The necessary health restrictions make it very difficult for us to operate.” says Karl deBruijn, the chairman of the Special Olympics Kamloops Organizinig Committee. “First of all our athletes are special, by defintion. They require a fairly high level of support.”

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For Special Olympic athletes it’s more than scoring the goal, making the big shot, or winning the race.

“They tell me, it’s their family, it’s their social life. They look forward to it so much.” says deBruijn. “They want to win believe me, they love it — there’s a much higher degree and bigger emphasis on the sportsmanship and the comradery. And even our AGM’s — I’ve been involved with a lot of different organizations that have AGM’s —- they’re the best. They all pay attention, they want to get the business end of the meeting done, because they want to move on to the pizza and dance.”

Special Olympic B.C. and the Kamloops chapter have worked hard to keep the athletes encouraged and engaged in keeping active through the provincial and local websites. As some of the athletes have told me, it’s not the same.”

The hope is that some of the restrictions will be eased moving into the spring season and outdoor sports and activities.

“I just got an email from one of the athletes.” says Karl deBruijn. “He says he’s missing his teammates, his friends, the social interaction that is the highlight of his week. He says ‘I’m also competitive, so I miss being challenged, to be better.’ He says he misses his coaches that feel like family to him. Special Olympics has done a good job of trying to keep athletes moving —- but it just doesn’t replace the social part. He goes on to say he just misses the people.”