Photo Courtesy: CFJC Today

By Noah Rishaug

Special Olympics

After pandemic pause, Special Olympics Winter Games give hundreds the chance to compete again

Feb 3, 2023 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — The 2023 B.C. Special Olympics Winter Games are well underway in the Tournament Capital. The event is having its big return after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

Special Olympians gathered at McArthur Island, representing regions from across British Columbia and the Yukon to compete in events in figure skating, curling and speed skating.

Athlete Alexander Pang is on the autism spectrum. He feels that competitive figure skating has helped him build his confidence in both life, and on the ice. Alexander has competed in events around the world.

“I didn’t really know what figure skating was. I took on the challenge to say yes. Ever since then, I’ve been a figure skater. And I’ve competed in two world games for winter — one of them in South Korea, the other in Austria.” Pang says.

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The competition gives athletes a chance to play and compete at a highly organized level. The competition can serve as an important stepping stone for athletes aiming for larger events and national teams. Speed Skater Paige Norton has also been around the world playing her sport for the Canadian national team.

“I’ve been to Boise, Idaho, Newfoundland, Quebec City. Then I went to Austria, and then the other one was Russia, but we didn’t even go because it was cancelled and postponed there.” Norton says, expressing her frustration at the cancellation of the international Special Olympics.

Between cancellations due to the Ukraine War and the pandemic, many athletes have not been given a chance to compete until now. The president of the BC Special Olympics, Dan Howe, is happy to see the athletes getting the opportunity.

“For so many of our athletes, they’ve been excluded from sport, they’ve been excluded from the community. They haven’t been able to take part in things, so when you come to an event like this all the athletes have been training with their coaches. It’s not a drop-in event. They’ve been training for years,” Howe states.

Events will run until Saturday, February 4.