Special Olympians return home with 20 medals
A delegation of athletes that represented Belize in Nicaragua for the Special Olympic Games returned home today with two gold medals. Ambassador for Special Olympics, Kim Simpliss and Chairman of Special Olympics Belize, Alan Auil, were at Stella Maris to greet the twenty-fourth athletes and handed out certificates for their accomplishments in winning a total of twenty medals. Jose Sanchez has the story.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The team of athletes left Belize for Nicaragua on Friday October fifth. The Special Olympic Games started on Monday and by Tuesday evening, Belize had won two gold medals and a cache of silver and bronze medals.
Myrna Elliott, Board Member, Special Olympic
“The first event was hundred meter run and in each event you have the intellectual, you have the deaf and you have C.P. So we did hundred meter; we did for three ah those, we did two hundred meter; we did also intellectual, deaf and C.P.”
Marlon Rodriguez, Coach, Special Olympics
“We helping Olympics, helping the kids, ih di give us opportunity mek wi win it and do better.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you had a good time?”
Marlon Rodriguez
“Yup because I got to be a leader, a special Olympics director and mek Belize feel proud.”
The first gold medal was won by Romelda Logan whom is intellectually impaired. Logan was happy with her performance.
Jose Sanchez
“Did you win anything? What you won?”
Romelda Logan, Gold Medallist, Special Olympics
“First and third.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you got gold medal and bronze medal?”
Romelda Logan
“Yes sir.”
Jose Sanchez
“So how did you like meeting people from all over the world? You want to do it again?”
Romelda Logan
“Yes sir.”
Jose Sanchez
“How does it feel to see that your child was being involved?”
Ruby Harris, Parent of Athlete
“He was all excited and personally I felt that it was a very good outing and exposure that would help him to develop and to see what the others are doing and to learn from it and that despite their condition, they can also be a part of what is going on in the daily lives of others and themselves and to excel in whatever they do.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Dave Young won the second gold medal in the long jump category for Males with Cerebral Palsy. The International Special Olympics is held every year and it is hoped that the games will remain in region and that Panama will be the next host country.
