153 days, 44 competitions, 10 sports, 8 Regions. From February to July 2024, Special Olympics BC Locals hosted summer Regional Qualifier competitions all throughout the province! As part of the Special Olympics BC competition cycle, Regional Qualifiers serve as a chance for athletes to compete for a spot to advance to the next Provincial Games. The 2024 Summer Regional Qualifiers gave hundreds of SOBC athletes the opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games in Prince George, happening July 10 to 13, 2025!
SOBC – Surrey athlete Jotham Polege competed in Regional Qualifiers for softball, and he shared what makes him excited to play.
“I hit the ball far. I just love doing it,” he said.
While Regional Qualifiers bring out the competitive spirit in SOBC athletes, the shared friendships and memories created during these events remind everyone of what Special Olympics is all about.
Lilli Wong is the parent of SOBC – Vancouver athlete Karina. Having recently gotten involved with Special Olympics in 2023, Lilli has already seen Karina find empowerment and belonging through sport.
“They’re happy and smiling, and that’s all you can ask for,” she said. “This has opened social doors for Karina as well as sport, giving her the ability to practice and be with some peers – so she’s very excited to have that.”
For SOBC – Coquitlam soccer teammates Amy Nelson and Amanda Manzardo, they enjoy competing on the field together as close friends.
“Being in Special Olympics has gained me so many friendships, especially Amanda’s friendship,” Nelson says.
“It’s a true friendship,” Manzardo says. “We talk on the phone for an hour a day, almost a couple of days a week.”
The success of Regional Qualifier events could not be achieved without the help of SOBC volunteers across the province. Local Coordinators, Registration Coordinators, PR Coordinators, and many other supporting roles have all worked tirelessly to organize competitions in their communities. We are so grateful for your efforts and dedication to providing opportunities for SOBC athletes to shine in their sports!
When do we find out who qualified for the 2025 SOBC Summer Games?
Now that Regional Qualifiers are wrapped up for all Regions, SOBC will calculate the number of athlete, coach, and mission staff spots for each Regional team. These numbers are based on the participation in the Regional Qualifiers.
Stay tuned for team announcements in the coming year!
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