FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Representation from all corners of our province heading to Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Sport is full of firsts, and Special Olympics is no different. For our athletes, sport has opened up the door to many firsts that perhaps others don’t think twice about. First time out of province. First plane ride. First time competing at the National level. But the 2018 Special Olympics National Summer Games have one very exciting and important first. This will be the first time that there will be representation from the northern part of our province on the National stage. Of the 65 person team, there are 3 members of Team Sask hailing from La Ronge, Saskatchewan, including Athletics Athlete Tyler Tsannie, Athletics Assistant Coach Kelly Haydukewich, and Golf Head Coach Lindsay Randall.
"A lot of our Northern athletes would not have the opportunity to visit places within Saskatchewan and now within Canada if it wasn't for Special Olympics,” says Lindsay Randall. “It helps them to meet other athletes they may not normally get to meet, as we are a small community that is very spread apart. Being the newest community to the Special Olympics Saskatchewan family it means so much to us that we are able to have this opportunity to send an athlete to the National Games. We know that they will have all of the North supporting them on this journey to Nova Scotia."
All team member athletes have been working hard to improve their skills since being selected to Team Sask. They are required to train at least three times each week leading up to the Games, but many will train four, five or six times per week. Team Sask has representatives from all across the province, with athletes ranging in age from 16 to 56. There are 43 athletes, who will be competing in Athletics, Bocce, Golf, Powerlifting, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball and Swimming, and 22 Coaches and Mission Staff attending these Games.
Team Sask has an awesome group of supporters that will be cheering them on from home while the team is off competing for their chance to progress to the World Summer Games, happening in Abu Dhabi in 2019. “I know our athletes will experienced joy, pride, and a sense of accomplishment during the 2018 National Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia,” said Darlene MacQuarrie, Chef de Mission for Team Sask. “Our amazing team of athletes, coaches and mission staff have been together this past year as they were committed to see our athletes shine through training. I hope everyone experiences a magical moment during the Games that they will cherish for a long time to come.”
All Team Sask supporters and media are invited to extend their well wishes to the team as they fly out on July 30th from either Saskatoon at 5:10 am or from Regina at 6:00 am, as well as their arrival post-competition on August 5th in Saskatoon at 4:50 pm and in Regina at 6:55 pm at the cities’ respective airports.
To follow Team Sask’s progress throughout the Games, please check out www.SO2018.com or www.specialolympics.ca/TeamSask2018 for both daily updates and the opportunity to send good luck messages directly to the athletes and coaches.
For additional information, contact: Darlene MacQuarrie, Chef de Mission for Team Sask, at 306-530- 2262 or dmaquarrie@specialolympics.sk.ca.
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Special Olympics Saskatchewan
Special Olympics Saskatchewan has been working with children, youth, and adults with an intellectual disability for fifty years. Within this time, it has grown well beyond being an event to become a year-round international movement. Our vision is to continue to improve and expand the quality, opportunity and accessibility of sport to individuals with an intellectual disability. Along with this, we continue to strive to improve upon both the awareness and support of the Province of Saskatchewan.