Bowlers are set to topple pins and inspire spectators at 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games.
An enthusiastic supporter of Special Olympics, Gord Wiffen can乌鸦传媒檛 wait to see bowlers give their all at the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games, taking place in Greater Vernon Feb. 21 to 23.
乌鸦传媒淚 love to watch the competition and the athletes just get so excited,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think there is anybody who tries harder or has a bigger heart than those athletes. They are just amazing, they really are.乌鸦传媒�
The event will see more than 600 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the province compete in eight sports. It will also mark the debut of 5-pin bowling at Special Olympics BC Winter Games, as it was previously part of the summer sports cycle. Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 Lincoln Lanes, which is owned by Wiffen and his sister Sandi Soroka, will host the sport.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 quite an honour,乌鸦传媒� Wiffen says 乌鸦传媒淲e are excited to be involved.乌鸦传媒�
Lincoln Lanes has a long history of supporting Special Olympics. The facility is home to Special Olympics BC 乌鸦传媒� Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 year-round bowling program, and its athletes have been throwing strikes and spares at Lincoln Lanes for almost 35 years.
Wiffen has coached bowling and softball with Special Olympics and says he always enjoys spending time with the organization乌鸦传媒檚 dedicated volunteers.
乌鸦传媒淭hey are amazing,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淲e have had some fantastic people who have given their time to make it happen.乌鸦传媒�
A big reason Wiffen loves bowling is because people of all ages and abilities can play together. He says bowling乌鸦传媒檚 inclusive nature fits well with the spirit of Special Olympics, and the sport gives athletes opportunities to meet new people and be part of a bigger community.
Special Olympics BC 乌鸦传媒� Kelowna athlete Parker Begg is one of more than 130 bowlers who will converge on Lincoln Lanes for Provincial Games. He has been training hard and will compete with the Region 2 team, which is comprised of athletes from the Okanagan.
乌鸦传媒淚 am so excited,乌鸦传媒� Begg says.
Begg has been a Special Olympics athlete for 10 years and this will be his first Provincial Games. He乌鸦传媒檚 pumped to meet new people and spend time with his teammates. He also says the event will give him an opportunity to be more independent, as this will be his first time away from home. Begg says his goal for the Games is to make his team proud.
乌鸦传媒淚 want to win and try my best,乌鸦传媒� he says.
Wiffen encourages people in his community to come out and watch hardworking athletes like Begg compete with pride during Games.
乌鸦传媒淐ome out and watch and have a good time and enjoy, because it乌鸦传媒檚 good entertainment 乌鸦传媒� it really is,乌鸦传媒� Wiffen says. 乌鸦传媒淵ou won乌鸦传媒檛 see anybody not trying their hardest, that乌鸦传媒檚 for sure.乌鸦传媒�
The 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games is looking for volunteers, and Wiffen says volunteering is a great way to experience this inspiring event. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 very rewarding to work with the athletes, it乌鸦传媒檚 a very worthy cause,乌鸦传媒� he says.
Volunteer registration is available at www.sobcgamesvernon.ca, or at the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games office, located at VantageOne Credit Union, 3108 33 Avenue.
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