The national torch run for the Canadian summer Special Olympics kicked off Friday morning, just a few days ahead of the opening ceremony which is scheduled to start Tuesday in Antigonish, N.S.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics. Over their five-decade span, the Special Olympics have helped shape the lives of thousands of athletes.
Among those athletes is Andrew Snow. He first joined when he was just seven years old. Over the past 13 years he has curled with the same team, winning dozens of medals.
Snow said over the years, the highlight was going to nationals in Newfoundland.
“It was fun, and it was a lot of work, but we won silver so that turned out good.”
Snow has also competed as a swimmer in the summer games and is now taking up golf with the hopes of going to nationals in that sport. He also has hopes to one day compete for Canada on the world stage.
His mother Patti said that since the moment he started with Special Olympics, she has noticed a change in his life.
“It was great because he didn’t speak, just a little bit, and the kids were so accepting. They were all older than him but he was very accepted and he loved it there,” Patti said.
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Athlete Thomas Given will be competing for Nova Scotia next week as point guard on the basketball team. He echoed Andrew’s sentiments of feeling accepted in the community.
“They understand you, you’re not judged, you can share something and they respect you. It feels like you’re part of a community.”
Given has been competing with Special Olympics for the past three years, but this will be his first chance to represent the province on a national level. He said he is very excited, and is most looking forward to having his brother fly up from the United States to come watch him compete for the first time.
This year will be the second time Nova Scotia plays host to the summer Special Olympics, and a first for Antigonish.
Over 1,400 athletes from across the country will be competing at the games next week.