This year marks the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics, a movement that invites young athletes with developmental and intellectual disabilities to compete, achieve, excel, and be brave in competition.
To celebrate the anniversary, Toronto will be hosting the 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games in May – bringing an estimated 2,000 young athletes ages 13 to 21 from around the world to compete in athletics, basketball, bocce, floor hockey and soccer.
Special Olympian Monique Shah shared the importance of the games at a special ceremony and flag raising in Bradford West Gwillimbury on Monday evening, recognizing Special Olympics Day.
“Special Olympics taught me I can do anything I put my mind to,” said Shah, who won two gold medals in track and field in the 2011 Special Olympics world competition in Athens, Greece, and three silver medals and one gold last year in a Sault Ste. Marie competition.
“I like Special Olympics because it is fun,” said the young track and field star at the March 25 event, which took place at the BWG Leisure Centre. “I get to travel all year round. It keeps my body fit, and my mind, and keeps me out of trouble.”
And, she said, it gives her the opportunity to meet new friends, “like Chief Fletcher.”
Shah was referring to South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher, who emceed the ceremony, underlining the connection between police and Special Olympics. Police services are the champions of the games, raising funds through the Law Enforcement Torch Run and other activities.
Fletcher introduced speakers that included BWG Mayor Rob Keffer and Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin, and he urged residents of South Simcoe to support the Draft an Athlete campaign to ensure every local Special Olympian can participate in this year’s Invitational Youth Games.
“Every $1,000 raised officially drafts an athlete,” said Fletcher, asking residents to show their support for Special Olympics Ontario, and athletes like Shah, who lives in Bradford, and fellow Special Olympian, Innisfil resident Kristy Alford.
South Simcoe was one of 50 communities celebrating Special Olympics Day on Monday.
“It is an honour to raise the Specials Olympics flag here today,” said Fletcher.
The first Special Olympics were held in 1968, under the auspices of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The summer games, held in Chicago, were inspired by the work of Toronto researcher Dr. Frank Hayden, who found it was lack of opportunity that kept kids with intellectual disabilities from participating in sports, not the disabilities themselves.
Today the Special Olympics movement has spread to 169 countries, with more than five million athletes participating in sports, discovering their abilities, and making new friends.
"This is an incredible opportunity for young athletes," said Keffer, reading a proclamation for Special Olympics Day. "I hope that these celebrations will help people of all ages in our community to be aware of the opportunities that exist for people of all abilities who love sports."
For more information on Special Olympics, the 2019 Invitational Youth Games, and the Draft an Athlete campaign, visit the website
