Special Olympics: St. Kitts and Nevis National Games rained off
Special Olympics: St. Kitts and Nevis National Games rained off
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 3, 2018 (S.T.E.P.) — Special Olympians who had on Wednesday May 2 assembled at the Kim Collins Stadium for the annual Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis National Games with the aim of attaining qualifying marks for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi next year will have to wait a little longer.
The games had a colourful opening ceremony with a contingent made up of personnel from the Defence Force, Police, Fire and Rescue Services, and Customs carrying the Olympic torch around the stadium. This was followed by a march past by athletes from the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School, and the Cecil Browne Integrated School (CBIS) from Nevis.
There were adult athletes who would have left school also taking part. The Greenlands-based Ade’s Place had its largest team ever following an intervention by the government agency Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP) last year, when it stepped in to sponsor trainees at the institution.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Mr Vincent Hodge, who was flanked by the Director of Sports Mr Anthony Wiltshire, and Special Olympic St. Kitts and Nevis officials, Ms Clarice Cotton (Board Chair), Mr Ivor Blake (National Director) and Ms Nadine Natta (Board Member) addressed the athletes before declaring the games open.
Mr Hodge thanked volunteers who had given up their time, talent and expertise to assist the Special Olympians, saying his ministry and the wider government in general appreciated the time they gave. The day’s events were chaired by Mrs Etsu Bradshaw-Caines. Athletes’ Oath was recited by three trainees from Ade’s Place, while Officials’ Oath was read by Mr Edwin Warner.
Three events, 50 meters walk (females) and 60 meters race (males and females), took place following which interment showers disrupted all events and athletes were forced to take cover at the pavilion. Determined to continue when skies cleared, they waited, but that was not to be. Medals were given for the events that took place earlier, and in the afternoon they dispersed.
“I think the weather had the final say, the weather took the gold today but that is just today, we will always have another day,” said National Director for Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr Ivor Blake.
According to Mr Blake, part of the process was to have an opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills and their talents, as Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis Board is preparing for the World Games in March of 2019. He noted: “Unfortunately we did not have that opportunity but we will have to regroup and look at some other time.”
Chair of the Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis Board, Ms Clarice Cotton, observed that the Board will have to find out what to do going forward as the meet on Wednesday May 2 would have helped in the selections of those who would have attained qualifications for Special Olympics World Games.
“We might do something again, maybe one morning or one afternoon, that will not be big staged as the event today,” stated Ms Cotton. “The World Games will be held next March in Abu Dhabi and the deadline for registration is September this year.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Teams at the Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis National Games at Kim Collins Stadium.
2: Officials from left: Ms Nadine Natta, Mr Vincent Hodge, Mrs Etsu Bradshaw-Caines, Mr Anthony Wiltshire, Ms Clarice Cotton, and Mr Ivor Blake.
3: A contingent from Ade’s Place.
4: Athletes from Ade’s Place recite the Athletes’ Oath.
5: Start of the 50 meters walk for adult females.
6: Start of the 60 meters race for junior females.
