After three years of training, nine local athletes will get a chance to represent British Columbia in the upcoming 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
These dedicated and deserving individuals qualified for their spots based on their performances in the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Greater Vernon and since qualifying for their spots on Team BC 2020, they have been training at least three times a week for the last 10 months.
Cross-Country Ski athletes include Barbie Conway, who has competed in four national games, Danny Lafreniere, his second appearance at the games, and Josh Pudney with two other national games on his resume.
This will be the first for Debbie Bileck, Mathew Brewer, Audrey Nelson and Adam Spokes, who are on the 5-pin bowling team.
Danielle Cavenaille, who has competed in one national game before, is also on the bowling team.
Sam Russell will join as a member of Kitimat's curling team, BC Kingfishers.
B.C.'s team has more than 140 athletes with intellectual disabilities, 42 volunteer coaches, and 13 mission staff from 42 communities.
The Special Olympics Games cycle operates every four years for both summer and winter sports.
Athletes compete in regional events and then provincial games to advance to the Special Olympics Canada Games, which also act as qualifiers for International Special Olympics competition.
The 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games takes place in Thunder Bay, Ont., Feb. 25 to 29, when 1,200 delegation members from Canada's 10 provinces and two of three territories come together to compete, creating an outstanding display of sport and sportsmanship in eight sports.
