Special Olympics BC
Our partnership with Special Olympics BC helps provide year-round, high-quality sports programs and competitions for more than 5,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the province.
Visit the Special Olympics website here
Prospera Credit Union’s generous support has made a huge difference for Special Olympics BC athletes in 2020. Many people with intellectual disabilities have felt the pain of exclusion long before the pandemic, and many of them lost their main source of social connections when SOBC programs had to pause. Prospera’s support has helped us ensure that athletes continue to feel connected, and has allowed us to develop resources so athletes can maintain their training and health at home. Funding from Prospera is also helping us safely restart our life-changing sport, health, and youth programs that are so important to more than 5,200 athletes in communities across the province
Athlete of the Month - November
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I participated in Special Olympics when I was 6 years old until I was officially involved in the sport when I was 8 years old.
What Special Olympics sports do you participate in?
My main Special Olympic sport is figure skating.
Describe your favourite Special Olympics experience so far.
Not really a specific experience but being able to perform in front of many different cities has been amazing. Being able to tour across towns and meeting new people has to be some of the great highlights on my trips.
What would you tell someone about Special Olympics to encourage them to get involved?
Special Olympics is a very welcoming community to be a part of. They accept you for who you are and are very helpful with whatever you need. You can make new friends easily and it also helps you to stay active.
Please tell us a little bit more about yourself. What else would you like people to know about you?
I am the granddaughter of an Olympic silver medalist, figure skater, Karol Divin. He represented Czechoslovakia in many competitions in the 1950s and 1960s. Being able to come from a legendary figure skater is a great privilege as it inspires me to carry the ‘Divin’ name in pride.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Divine
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The organization provides a variety of sports and youth programs, giving athletes the chance to gain sport skills and improve their health while enjoying training that could take them to competitions at local, regional, national and international levels. But the benefits from Special Olympics BC programs go well beyond the basics: athletes experience joy and acceptance, cultivate friendships and self-confidence, and feel empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
As well, a network of thousands of coaches and fans share a unique experience and sense of community in supporting, cheering on and learning from the athletes they work with.