Ivy Whitfield and Dee Neukomm were looking to get their children
involved in sport when, 25 years ago, they answered a newspaper ad looking to start a Special Olympics program in Prince George.
"I went there just curious," said Whitfield about the August 1986 meeting.
"I was actually at the second meeting, not the first. Dee was at the first meeting. This was an opportunity for our own children to get involved in sports. There was nowhere else in the city for them to go because they learn slower - some people look different, some speak different, some don't speak at all, but they all enjoy one another. They don't see their disabilities."
The two women were joined by Mabel Cotts and Sheilagh Blacklock and, after a few months of discussion with the Vancouver head office, Special Olympics British Columbia Prince George was created.
"We didn't really know which way to go," said Whitfield. "The other mothers and me we all worked together. We just met in homes once a month.
"I wasn't all left on one person," added the 84 year old, who still coaches cross-country skiing for beginners.
"We would just generally talk and do what we could for the best [of the athletes]. We
always had Vancouver to guide us."
Whitfield said she has done almost every job in Special Ol except finances and publicity.
"It was just knowing you were doing good for these athletes and that they could go and take some pride in themselves and shine in some kind of a sport," said Whitfield.
It was in the early 1960s when Frank Hayden, a Toronto researcher, disproved the assumption that intellectually-challenged persons were unable to take part in physical activity due to their disability.
Hayden's work caught the attention of the Kennedy Foundation in Washington D.C. and the Special Olympics was formed.
In 1968 the first Special Olympics sports competitions took place in Chicago with the first event held in Canada the following year in Toronto.
Neukomm has stayed involved with the executive and coaching rhythmic gymnastics even after her daughter Lara passed away in April 1991, when she was 17. Neukomm coached in the second Special Olympic World Games.
"It's very rewarding," said Neukomm. "You get more back than what you give to them. It takes them a lot of time to learn the different skills, but they have the courage and the strength and determination.
"I have had so many wonderful experiences," she added. "I've met awesome people -
dedicated coaches and dedicated athletes."
25 years of growth
In the 1980s, when Special Olympics put down roots in Prince George, there were 12 athletes and four executives, putting on three sports: general recreation, swimming and track and field. In 2011 the number of athletes participating was up to 140 along with about 88 volunteers and an executive of nine.
Thom Ross, who began volunteering in 1987 along with his wife Jackie, as five- and 10-pin bowling coaches, said the executive has a good mix of people.
"It's just the right number because no one feels overwhelmed," said Ross.
The first summer or winter games athletes from Prince George took part in were in Richmond in 1987 from July 3 to 5, when 15 athletes and four coaches made the trip.
Ross had coached youth bowling when he was asked to try coaching the Special Olympic athletes.
"I was a little apprehensive, but one of the little girls that bowled in the league - her name was Lara Neukomm - you couldn't help but fall in love with her," said Ross. "She was a real sweetheart. Because of my work schedule I had to miss one Saturday a month and the next Saturday when I returned she would come up and tell me her scores. I thought that was kind of neat."
He said coaching youth bowlers and Special Olympics bowlers isn't very different in terms of strategy.
"You coach them exactly the same way but you have to have a ton more patience," said Ross.
"The attention span sometimes is limited and if they don't get it the first time they'll get it eventually. You just have to keep plugging away."
Bowling, both five-and 10-pin, swimming and rhythmic gymnastics are the most popular sports for Special Olympics athletes in Prince George these days, but they also take part in track and field,
cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Ross said he tried leaving the Special Olympics program at one time.
"I tried walking away from it one year, but I could never walk away from the coaching," said Ross. "I wanted to get away from the political end of it and the executive end of it - I lasted nine months. I wouldn't be here for the amount of time it requires if I didn't enjoy it."
Special athletes
A competition involving Special Olympic athletes is different than taking in a sporting event where the main goal is winning.
"I put emphasis on personal best and on them having fun because if they don't have fun they're not going to come back," said Ross.
One thing Ross knows is that when he coaches athletes with intellectual challenges they won't be afraid to tell him when he's made a mistake.
"They're my worst critics; they'll tell me everything," said Ross. "That's the one thing about Special Olympians, they hold nothing back. They're honest to a fault and they'll tell you exactly what they think of you and they'll smile while they're doing it. They're very honest, yet caring."
Prince George athletes have competed in provincial, national and international events starting in 1987, all the way up to Winter Games in St. Albert, Alta. The only competition in which there was no Prince George athlete was in 2011 at the world summer games in Athens, Greece.
In the 20-plus years athletes like Lara Neukomm, Brian Whitfield, Gareth Blacklock and Dean Cotts have gone to events around B.C., throughout Canada and places like China and Ireland.
They've returned home with dozens of medals.
But as Stephanie Tremblay, a 19-year-old athlete who just returned from competing nationally for the first time in St. Albert points out, winning medals is not the most important part of the competition.
"It's just doing what I love," said Tremblay, a student at the College of New Caledonia.
Tremblay was one of five Prince George athletes who took part in the Canada Winter Games for Special Olympics in St. Albert.
Other cross-country skiers were Danny Lafreniere, Barb Conway and Kim Erickson. Jen Germann went to the games for snowshoeing.
"It's better to be athletic than sitting at home," said Conway.
Calvin Dyck, along with Ivy Whitfield, coaches the cross-country skiers in Prince George and gets them ready for the intensity of competing against strangers in front of an
audience. Dyck said it's inspiring to see someone with Whitfield's passion.
"When somebody's come along and put that many years in and is still participating and helping me out in the snow, I can see nothing better," said Dyck, who has coached for nine years. "It's truly gratifying."
Tremblay has difficulty putting into words what Whitfield's coaching means to her.
"Without her we wouldn't be where we are today," said Tremblay. "She's what makes cross-country skiing special."
Four of the five Prince George athletes returned from St. Albert with medals, while all came home with new friendships and memories.
