There are 18 Prince George athletes going to the Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops that will showcase more than 500 athletes from across the province. The event takes place from Feb. 2 to 4 and local athletes will be competing in curling, snowshoeing and five-pin bowling.
Other sports offered during the competition are alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, speed skating and floor hockey.
Also in attendance from Prince George are four head coaches, three assistant coaches and two mission staff members who will accompany the athletes.
“The 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games will be an incredible opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to show their skills, compete with pride, and develop meaningful friendships,” Dan Howe, SOBC president & CEO, said. “We are so grateful to all the volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters who are helping athletes achieve their dreams.”
Athletes had to earn their place in the games through regional qualifiers that were held between January and May, 2002. All the athletes have trained hard in the year-round Special Olympics programs in their communities in preparation to achieve their personal bests in Kamloops while looking for a chance to qualify for the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary.
List of athletes, coaches and mission staff include:
Adam Spokes, five-pin bowler
Audrey Nelson, five-pin bowler
Debbie Bileck, five-pin bowler
Lance Pattinson, five-pin bowler
Leif Skuggedal, five-pin bowler
Matthew Brewer, five-pin bowler
Darcie Muzycka, curler
Greg Cole, curler
Greg Evenshen, curler
Ruth Caldwell, curler
Samuel Russell, curler
Spencer Rourke, curler
Tyler Lefebvre, curler
William Spaetgens, curler
Adrian Rose, snowshoer
David Dunn, snowshoer
Marinka Van Hage, snowshoer
Tegan Raines, snowshoer
Carol Lee, five-pin bowling head coach
Fern Russell, curling head coach
Kristopher Reklinski, curling head coach
Wilma Van Hage, snowshoeing head coach
Kassandra Lewis, curling assistant coach
Peter Goudal, curling assistant coach
Suni Dunn, snowshoeing assistant coach
Alex Orser, mission staff
Sydney Hall, mission staff
Members of the public can make a difference for deserving Special Olympics BC athletes by getting involved in rewarding roles in the year-round Special Olympics programs in their communities, and by donating to help make the empowering SOBC Games experience possible.
To support the athletes in their pursuits Tim Hortons is bringing back the Special Olympics Donut from Feb. 3 to 5. When supporters purchase the donut 100 per cent of the proceeds go directly to local Special Olympics community programs, supporting more than 41,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across Canada.
For more information about the Special Olympics BC Winter Games visit www.sobcgameskamloops.ca.
