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 intellectuapl 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 - June
Special Olympics BC Local:
My mom talked a friend of hers who said both me and my brother, Ben, should see if we would like to join SOBC.I started participating in SOBC in Kelowna back in 1997 when I was 14 years old. I had to stop swimming for a year because I had brain surgery. But I got right back into the pool after I got better.
What Special Olympics sports do you participate in?
I started in the swim program. But since then I have competed in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, softball and bocce. I had qualified for every provincial, Canadian National Games since 1997, and I have competed in three World Games for swimming and alpine skiing. Right now, I am training to go to Russia for the 2022 World Winter Games in cross country skiing.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
When I competed in the 2019 World Games in Dubai and in 2015 in Los Angeles in swimming. I met my idol, Michael Phelps in LA – so that was pretty awesome!
What would you tell someone about Special Olympics to encourage them to get involved?
I would tell them it's fun, you meet lots of new friends and you get to compete in lots of sports.
Please tell us a little bit more about yourself! What else would you like people to know about you?
Besides competing in SOBC, I work at a local grocery store and an organic farm. I love to use my iPad, be on social media with my friends and do handicrafts. I am a nice person and a good friend.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
That's a hard one! Probably that I’m a good friend.
View previous Athlete of the Month:
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.