Special Olympians surpass World Games expectations

The 25 athletes who represented St Vincent and the Grenadines at this year’s Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, from March 14 to 21, would have bettered the expectations of many.

When the medal count came at the end of the Games, St Vincent and the Grenadines finished with seven gold, six silver and four bronze, a total of 17 medals.

Loggie Loraine and Unica Smith, both won gold in Bocce doubles, while Aneisha Sutherland and Tara Lewis won sprint doubles, as they won their respective categories’ 100 and 200m.

Meanwhile, Adrian Cummings took gold in the 100m, as track and field added another first place.

In the pool, Walsh Ollivierre, Racquel Miler, Krista Bynoe and Jason Williams combined to win the 4 x 400m Swim Relay.

Two second places in tennis, as well as the runner-up spot in football, along with a second places in track and field and swimming, tallied the team’s silver medals.

Track and field, swimming, tennis and Bocce, all claimed bronze medals.

Hon Ces Mc Kie – Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture,
addressing last Monday’s
welcoming ceremony

To the good, St Vincent and the Grenadines gained 8 ribbons.

When the Vincentian team returned home last Monday night, they were officially welcomed home with a ceremony at the Argyle International Airport VIP Lounge.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil “Ces” Mc Kie confessed they the athletes bettered his anticipations.

“When I addressed you when you were leaving as part of the farewell party here at the AIA and I said to you that I was confident that you were going out there and represent well and do well … You have really, really outdone yourselves and represented St Vincent and the Grenadines well,” Mc Kie said.

Sharing a similar sentiment was Terrance Davis, Special Olympics sports director.

Davis, who has represented as an athlete, recalled: “It is the most medals that we have brought back individually… As a coach, as a family member, as a friend, what more can we ask for?”

Davis said that the achievements of the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ athletes in Abu Dhabi, has bettered all done in previous years.

“The athletes have surpassed what they would have done,” Davis stated.

According to Special Olympics SVG’s national director Sezevra Joseph, she referenced the outing as a “mission accomplished”.

Thankful for their safe return, Joseph told SEARCHLIGHT that the performance of the athletes “brought tears to my eyes”.

Joseph said that the medal return was recompense of all those who invested in ensuring that the team travelled to Abu Dhabi.

Joseph singled out the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for their help in securing funding for the team’s airfare and accommodation, which was paid for by the government of Dubai.

The 25 athletes and 12 officials, who made up the St Vincent and the Grenadines team, returned in two batches on Monday night, to happy parents, friends and well wishers.

Germany will host the next Special Olympics World Games scheduled to take place in Germany in 2023.

[[UPDATE: The story was updated on March 30, 2019 at 3:04 pm to reflect that the airfare and accommodation for the SVG team to the Special Olympics was paid for by the government of Dubai. The story previously said that the team’s airfare and accommodation was paid for by Dubai Cares.]]