Special Olympics in Kamloops 2015 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

With Kamloops Special Olympic Games less than a month away, volunteers still needed

Jan 10, 2023 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — The 2023 Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games are coming to Kamloops this February. The games are set to bring approximately 2,500 people to Canada’s Tournament Capital, including more than 600 athletes.

It’s the first Special Olympic Games since the pandemic and the first time back in Kamloops since 2015.

With the games less than a month away, the organizing committee is making a final push for volunteers to help with the events. Chair of the 2023 Games Jan Antons noted that they have received a recent influx of volunteers but they still need more in a variety of roles.

“We are always looking for volunteers. We did have quite a rush of volunteers come in lately, which is a Kamloops thing, right before,” said Antons. “We are still looking for volunteers, no prior experience is required. We are looking for safety people, sport-specific people, general volunteers for opening and closely ceremony, some food service people. It’s a lot of work there is a lot of athletes, so we need all the help we can get.”

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Those looking to volunteer should visit their website at SOBCGamesKamloops.ca.

Athletes qualified to compete in the 2023 Games through their performances in regional qualifiers held last year.

“As a volunteer it’s some of the best events that I have volunteered for, just to see the pure joy of the athletes and how excited they are to show up when they come to Kamloops. For them it’s not necessarily about getting the fastest time or the points. It’s really for them about enjoying it and enjoying the atmosphere. And that is something you as a volunteer can do, you provide the hype and the fanfare and everything and they love it,” added Antons.