GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands — While noting the myriad setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Special Olympics North America (SONA) President and Managing Director Greg Epperson says Caribbean programmes are on a trajectory to grow to unprecedented levels.

Epperson, attending the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative bocce tournament, training and business meeting at Lions Community Centre, noted the rich history of the regional countries. The Caribbean has for decades contributed immensely to Special Olympics International through positive leadership and athletic prowess.

The SONA boss, who has oversight of the Caribbean Initiative, suggested that the energy on display among the participants in the Cayman Islands bodes well for the future.

“COVID-19 certainly put a mark on us and knocked us down but we are coming back, and we are coming back bigger, better and stronger,” he said.

“I truly believe that when the Caribbean programmes unite as one team, with one vision, with a common goal, I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be achieved. If we get everybody working towards that same goal and driving that excellence, I think we will elevate what everybody does.

“This is my 24th year working with programmes in the Caribbean and I think the people’s passion and pride are unparalleled to anywhere else in the world. There’s a tremendously big heart and love that’s here that is just contagious,” Epperson added.

In addition to the bocce competition, the five-day event comprises training for coaches and officials as well as healthy athletes screening for 19 regional programmes.

Epperson said the business meeting on Friday has brought him closer to the challenges facing programme leaders in the Caribbean.

“This [business meeting] is really a culmination of many years of getting our athletes back into the field of play, years of getting back our Caribbean programmes back together. It’s the chance to look at how we can grow and promote inclusion and really take Special Olympics to another level in the Caribbean — and this is the start of that.

“We are talking about how we can truly impact the lives of not only people with intellectual disabilities but also people without intellectual disabilities. You hear of the challenges of recruiting volunteers and having coaches to train the athletes, and this is a huge step to taking on [trained] coaches and officials. These people are sometimes overlooked, but they are important to the quality of competition,” he outlined.

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

Bocce requires players to use an underarm action to bowl a ball at a target, with points are awarded based on the ball’sproximity to the target.