"Unity is strength. . . when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved."- Mattie Stepanek

109 athletes will proudly stand and wear Canada’s colours to represent our nation in Abu Dhabi on March 14 for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games. 

Special Olympics Team Canada will break new grounds by attending the first Special Olympics World games hosted in the Middle East North Africa region since the movement’s founding 50 years ago. Team Canada is ready to celebrate and honour 50 years of sport and inclusion. Leading Team Canada is chef de mission, Michael Greek, president and CEO of Special Olympics Nova Scotia and assistant chef de mission, Jill Moore from Special Olympics Alberta. Joining the team is Special Olympics champion and Olympic medalist, Marnie McBean who will be Team Canada’s honorary coach. 

“Representing Canada at any sporting event is a huge honour and responsibility and we welcome all team members and congratulate them on this exciting accomplishment,” said chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada 2019, Michael Greek.

“We begin as individuals from all across the country, but we will quickly gel as a dynamic, hardworking, and laser focused team. By the end of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, we will be a close knit family!”
 

From March 14 to 21, Special Olympics Team Canada will be competing in nine summer sports: 10-pin bowling, athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, and swimming.

Team Canada athletes were selected based on their performance in the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Bowling Championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I and 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S. More than 1,300 athletes from both events competed and earned their spot on Team Canada. 

From members across the country, 14 Albertans will represent Canada: 

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With the World Games approaching in less than six months, Team Canada members will be heading to Caledon, Ontario for two training camps from October 11 to 14 and October 18 to 21. 

Go to www.specialolympics.ca for the full Team Canada roster. 

About 2019 Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi

The 2019 Special Olympics World Games will be hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in March 2019 for the first time in the Middle East North Africa since the movement’s founding over 50 years ago. The Crown Prince Court led the winning bid efforts with a mission to promote positive social change for people with intellectual disabilities and create a more inclusive society.
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event and a global movement which focuses on the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport.

The event is under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose leadership and vision have been instrumental in bringing together public and private sector partners to be a part of this event. Over 7,000 athletes from over 170 countries will be coming to compete in a series of sports, as well as a variety of initiatives and activities held across the seven Emirates. Athletes will compete in 24 summer sports. It is expected to have half a million spectators on site and 20,000 games volunteers ensuring the best quality games experience.