Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative commands respect, say stakeholders
Special Olympics (SO) Caribbean Initiative boss Lorna Bell says the successful staging of the bocce showpiece in the Cayman Islands is testament to the developmental strides made across the region in recent years.
Late last month, Special Olympics Cayman Islands hosted a bocce tournament, in addition to offering training for bocce coaches and officials, and healthy athletes screening for 19 Caribbean programmes.
A business meeting, featuring regional stakeholders as well as leadership representatives from Special Olympics International (SOI) and Special Olympics North America (SONA), was also convened.
“I believe the event was very successful, as evidenced by the participation of 19 out of 20 programmes in the Caribbean. Such a high attendance rate indicates strong interest and commitment from our programmes,” Bell, executive director of the Caribbean Initiative, said.
“From the set-up to the officiating, and everything in between, it was clear that a significant amount of time and effort went into planning this event. The meticulous attention to detail ensured a seamless execution, contributing to the overall success. The co-ordination of activities was impressive, and the positive feedback from participants aligned with my sentiments,” she added.
The Special Olympics programme provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of disciplines for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The sport of bocce requires players to use an underarm action to bowl a ball at a target. Points are awarded based on the ball’s proximity to the target.
Bell, who became head of the Caribbean Initiative in 2019 after previously serving as Special Olympics Jamaica executive director, has long championed the call for greater investment from corporate bodies.
Partnering with regional governments, particularly as it relates to policy making aimed at improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, is also key.
She said the May 22-26 event hosted at the Lions Community Centre in Grand Cayman underlines the argument that broader support is warranted.
“Events like these play a crucial role in our efforts by showcasing our athletes and the work we are doing. Our partners had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact of their contributions, and to get reinforcements about the importance of their support. And of course, government involvement is also vital.
“I believe a solid case has been made in favour of the Caribbean Initiative as it seeks to command more resources for regional development,” Bell said.
Isaac Rankine, the Cayman Islands Minister of Youth, Sports and Heritage, said his government was proud to have been a major partner in hosting the event. He, however, added that more can be done.
“I think the [government’s] relationship with Special Olympics Cayman Islands is quite strong, but certainly there is always room for improvement and growth. And as long as I’m minister of sports I will continue to support it [Special Olympics] and participate whenever and wherever we can,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
He lauded organisers for staging a world-class event.
“Thanks to the Cayman Islands Special Olympics Committee for the organisation and everything they had set up for the different Caribbean countries.
“But certainly what I have seen warms my heart in that this is world class. This [the arrangement of the bocce courts] is a set-up that you’ll probably see in any international event but we were able to host it here in Cayman with very little,” Rankine, who has Jamaican heritage, said.
Bell also lavished praise on the staging of the bocce tournament, which is the first regional sport competition in 20 years. The face-to-face meeting was the first of its kind in 10 years.
“I want to commend the members of the local organising committee, all of whom are from the Cayman Islands, who planned and executed the successful staging of the Caribbean Initiative bocce tournament.
“I must give a special thank you as well to Maxine Everson, honorary member, SO Cayman Islands, for her guidance and support which was instrumental in the preparation and execution of this event,” Bell said.
During the closing ceremony in Cayman, it was announced that Trinidad and Tobago is set to host the inaugural Special Olympics regional beach games in November this year.