ORLANDO, United States — Lorna Bell, executive director of the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative, is expressing gratitude to organisers for inviting regional programmes to compete at the just-concluded USA Games in Florida.

All of 10 Caribbean countries, including Aruba, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, accepted invitation to the USA Games — a novel experience for the region.

“I must commend Joe Dzaluk, the president and chief executive officer of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, and Meghan McLean, the senior vice-president of sports for the Games, for extending an invitation to us to participate,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“This was the first time programmes from the Caribbean participated in these Games. The Games offered an amazing opportunity for me to champion their participation and [it was] also amazing for the athletes to get the chance to compete against their peers.

“It is important to note that programmes in the Caribbean fall under Special Olympics North America (SONA) and, therefore, it was fitting for us to be included. It wasn’t only about the medals — our athletes competed well and did the region proud.

“It is always satisfying for me to watch our athletes showcase their talents to the world and, more importantly, come together in the spirit of unity to shine as one,” Bell said.

The former Special Olympics Jamaica boss said the USA Games presented the opportunity to network with her colleagues from SONA.

“These games also presented an opportunity to meet key personnel from the Caribbean and Special Olympics International, in person, who I have been working with for the past three years. Video conferencing is great but nothing beats those face-to-face connections, for me.

“The contacts and connections made will definitely be beneficial to the region as we continue working together to build awareness for the movement in the Caribbean,” she explained.

The Special Olympics programme provides people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, maintain healthy lives, and participate in the sharing of skills with other athletes.

Intellectual disabilities can either be acquired or genetic and can include cases of autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and traumatic brain injury.

– Sanjay Myers