B.C. athletes primed for Special Olympics Canada Winter Games

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Alpine skiing athletes Colby Bell (Vernon) and Jordan Ewert (Kelowna).Alpine skiing volunteer coach Devyn Scott (Kelowna)

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Cross country skiing athletes Matthew Bisschop and Justin Sigal (Vernon); Jordan Lige, Glen McIntyre, Tracey Melesko, Maria Schmitke, Roy Stephens, and Kelsey Wyse (Kelowna); Dimitri Konstant and Francis Stanley (West Kelowna) Cross country skiing volunteer coaches Garth Vickers (Kelowna), Annabel Stanley (West Kelowna), Ray Huson (Penticton), Les Sigal (Vernon) ·

Snowshoeing athletes Mary Adamson and Justin Chippendale (Vernon); Tony Wilkinson (Kelowna) · Snowshoeing volunteer coaches Janny Jung (Vernon) and David Wilkinson (Kelowna) ·

Team BC Bull Dogs 5-pin bowling athletes Shawn Blatz, Darryl Hagel, Lynden Hicks, Jeri Lee Hodgins, and Gregory Ovenden (Penticton) · Bull Dogs volunteer coach Fae Hodgins (Penticton) ·

Figure skating athlete Alexandra Magee (Kelowna)

Curling volunteer coach Ty Wilkinson (Kelowna)

Team BC alpine skiing athlete Malcolm Tietjen splits his time between Vancouver and Penticton, and participates in the SOBC – Penticton 10-pin bowling program when he is here.

“I’m excited, proud, and honoured to be a part of Team BC 2020! It’s a good feeling being accepted for who I am,” said Vernon snowshoer Mary Adamson. Competing at National Games is a dream come true. It’s a chance to showcase my personal best in a sport I love.”

The age of youngest Team BC athlete is 14, and 74 is age of oldest Team BC athlete.

More than 55 athletes will be competing at National Games for the first time.

Since qualifying for their spots on Team BC 2020 through their performances at the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Greater Vernon, the provincial team athletes and coaches have been hard at work to be at their best at the National Games, training at least three times a week for the last 10 months. Training has included sport-specific work in our local year-round Special Olympics programs, participating in Club Fit, additional fitness and dryland training, working with sport-specific experts, and focusing on diet and nutrition.

The Special Olympics Games cycle operates on a four-year cycle for both summer and winter sports. Athletes compete in regional events and then Provincial Games to advance to National Games, and Special Olympics Canada Games are the qualifiers for international Special Olympics competition. Through these competitions and training, Special Olympics athletes empower themselves and open hearts and minds as they set and achieve goals, build pride and confidence, and forge valued friendships.

The 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games will see 1,200 delegation members from Canada’s 10 provinces and two of three territories come together to compete in Thunder Bay, creating an outstanding display of sport and sportsmanship in eight sports.