NOT EVEN overcast conditions could put a damper on the tremendous excitement when over a dozen participating units took part in yesterday’s Special Olympics meet at the National Stadium.
The times and distances did not match those which were set over the past two months and which will be established over the next three days during NAPSAC or BSSAC, but the smiles on the faces of the athletes and coaches and families were definitely superior as many of those supporters ran on to the track to give appreciative hugs and kisses to beaming champions.
Hundreds of volunteers were kept busy as competition revolved around the sprints, relays and jumps with participants of all ages coming from All Saints Primary Special Unit, Ann Hill School, Challenor Creative Arts Training Centre, Charles F. Broome Special Unit, Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, Eagle Hall Primary Annex, Elayne Scantlebury Centre, Ellerton Primary Annex, Erdiston Special School, Hilda Skeene Primary, St Matthews Primary Annex, The Learning Centre, Thelma Vaughn Memorial Home and the Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre.
Independent runner Nikita Maycock who captured a gold medal at the Special Olympics in Anthens in July 2011, showed her greater speed and class in the 100 metres and also signalled that she could be hunting more gold when the Barbados team head off to the World Games in Los Angeles in July.
Many of the spectators who attended yesterday’s event would have earned gold themselves for their loud and positive support of the little and not so little track stars. (KB)
