The Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia have come to an end and to say Team Sask excelled would be an understatement!
A number of athletes and coaches were new to the National Games experience, yet all of Team Sask were incredible representatives of both their communities and the Province of Saskatchewan as a whole. Athletes, accompanied by their coaches and mission staff, made significant headway in the incredible demonstration of sport and determination. Team Sask athletes said #ChallengeAccepted right from the beginning and all their hard work paid off!
Before the Games officially kicked off, the athletes had time to see the sport venues, to have a short practice and to do some sightseeing and have a bit of fun. Following practice, Team Sask was able to check out the beautiful Crystal Cliffs, which included the opportunity to step into the cool water and even try some East Coast mussels. Then came Opening Ceremonies, which proved to be a wonderful experience for both the team and their family and friends alike. Everyone celebrated the hard work the athletes, coaches, and mission staff had put into training for the impending competition and how much dedication it took to reach that point.
As competition started to get underway, our athletes truly displayed the breadth of their training through exceptional athletic performances. Team Sask athletes achieved many personal bests as they set their sights on gold. After the four days of competition, much of Team Sask had hardware in hand. But the most important thing throughout the week of Games was the introduction to a higher level of competition, lifelong memories and friendships, and the outstanding demonstration of strength, courage, and willingness to be Brave in the Attempt! Team Sask finished the 2018 Summer Games with 20 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals.
Next up is to patiently await the announcement of those selected to be on Team Canada, which will compete at the upcoming 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE in March 2019. Good luck to everyone!