Even as Trinidad and Tobago prepares to host the first-ever Special Olympics Caribbean Beach Games there is already talk of making it a staple on the regional calendar.

The landmark event, to be staged from November 8-10, is set to feature 13 regional programmes, including Special Olympics Jamaica, participating in aquathlon, beach football, and beach bocce, among other disciplines.

The Special Olympics Beach Games will offer the opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to showcase their skills and abilities, compete against their peers, and build relationships across the region.

Activities are scheduled to take place at venues in both the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and are expected to attract approximately 130 athletes, 70 coaches, and scores of volunteers over the three days.

Along with the sporting action on the beach, organisers have planned a healthy athletes screening, a family health forum, and a historic Caribbean Initiative Family Engagement Workshop.

“We are surrounded by water in the Caribbean, so it’s important for us to develop the Beach Games and make it a signature Special Olympic event for the Caribbean,” said Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative Executive Director Lorna Bell.

“We believe that sports can play a major role in promoting inclusion, understanding, and respect, and we hope that these Games will demonstrate our commitment and capacity to host events in our region that would inspire more people to support Special Olympics athletes,” she explained.

Partnering with regional governments, particularly as it relates to policymaking aimed at improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, is also a crucial component.

Jamaica, through its Ministry of Sport, is the only Caribbean country to have signed the Special Olympics global leadership coalition for inclusion, which ratifies agreements between national programmes and their governments.

Bell said she is thrilled that Trinidad and Tobago is set to sign the coalition during the Beach Games.

“I’d like to congratulate Trinidad and Tobago for being ready to join the coalition. The coalition is important because it signifies the Government’s support for Special Olympics.

“We all have to work together to make sure that individuals with developmental disabilities are not left behind, and the coalition will help us in that regard,” said Bell, who became head of the Caribbean Initiative in 2019 after previously serving as Special Olympics Jamaica executive director.

— Sanjay Myers