GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands — Organisers say all is in place for the successful staging of the Special Olympics (SO) Caribbean Initiative bocce event and business meeting, to be hosted at Lions Community Centre.

Between May 22 and 26 the Caribbean Initiative is staging a bocce tournament in addition to providing bocce coaching and officiating certification training and healthy athletes screening for 19 programmes, including Jamaica.

In bocce, players use an underarm action to bowl a ball at a target. Points are awarded based on the ball’s proximity to the target.

“This event marks an exciting time and a significant step in the right direction for the Caribbean region. I believe this initiative will not only foster camaraderie and sportsmanship but also create impactful opportunities for collaboration and growth within the Caribbean,” Lorna Bell, who has been executive director of SO Caribbean since 2019, told the Jamaica Observer regarding the five-day event in the Cayman Islands.

“After the Berlin 2023 World Games we decided that, going forward, we’d offer more competition and training — especially for our low-functioning athletes — and the majority of those athletes are from the bocce group.

“Special Olympics Cayman Islands is ready, and what I’m most impressed with is that they have an international-standard bocce court. They have well-trained coaches and technical directors from Special Olympics International [SOI] here to conduct the training of our coaches, who will be able to earn certification on the spot,” she added.

While noting that the only previous Special Olympics regional sporting event was held in Jamaica in 2004, Bell said hosting the healthy athletes activities for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the business meeting, offers a holistic experience.

“We believe that health is important to our athletes, and health and sports go together.

“The business meeting is another plus. Special Olympics Caribbean has not met face to face as a group for the past 10 years. I’m excited to have us all together here so we can sit together and discuss the way forward from 2025 to 2027, with particular focus on Special Olympics International’s strategic plan.

Dr Shari Smith, chairperson of the organising committee for the 2024 Cayman Islands bocce tournament, said her team is prepared for virtually all eventualities.

“We are in full-speed-ahead mode right now. It’s just about executing the plans that have been put in place and adjusting where necessary. Special Olympics Cayman Islands has a reputation of hosting quality, high-standard events, so this is going to be no different. We’re really excited to be able to host this because the last regional competition that was held was in Jamaica about 20 years ago,” the games organising boss said.

Nicole Thompson, competitions manager, said teams will have the chance to use the bocce courts before the divisioning begins on Thursday.

“This [Wednesday] afternoon we will have the teams coming to have them practise on the court… to have a feel for the court. We recognise that in the Caribbean, people are playing on different surfaces — some on grass, some on clay, some on sand, and some on turf like this — so we are giving each team a chance to get a feel of how the courts are rolling,” Thompson explained.

On Wednesday, Bell visited the community centre as volunteers applied the finishing touches to the venue.

“I have to make special mention for the people who see the importance of hosting this event for our athletes as we are all about inclusion, and these athletes must not be left behind.

“We have here a dedicated local organising committee from SO Cayman Islands whose unwavering support and hard work have made this event possible. We have to give a huge thanks to Darrel Rankine, the national director of SO Cayman Islands; and Maxine Everson, SO Cayman Islands honorary member, for all their support,” she said.

Bell, a former executive director of Special Olympics Jamaica, also praised Special Olympics International, Aruna Abhey Oswal Trust, Lions Clubs International Foundation, and the Cayman Islands Government through their Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage.

The Special Olympics programme provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of disciplines for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.