PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) Executive Director Coleridge “Roy” Howell has praised the country’s two-member bocce team for medal-winning performances at the historic Caribbean beach games.

The region’s first-ever Special Olympics Beach Games offered the opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to showcase their skills, compete against their peers, and build relationships.

Jamaica’s Jhaiden Edwards won silver in beach bocce singles in Maracas, Trinidad, and partnered with compatriot Molique Edwards (not related) to claim silver in the doubles category.

Molique earned fourth place in beach bocce singles.

The boys – both aged 15 – were guided during the November 8-10 beach games by Best Care Special Education School’s physical education teacher Carl Ellis.

Howell said they handled the occasion with ease, given their limited experience.

“Jhaiden and Molique represented well, though they were doing this for the first time. You would not have known based on how easily they fit in,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Monday before the team returned from the twin-island nation.

“I’m one of the proudest persons going back to Jamaica. These are new athletes in new surroundings and they applied themselves like more senior athletes. They came here and did so well to get medals — a remarkable feat for these athletes who had no prior experience at this level.”

Over the three days of the event, Special Olympics athletes also participated in aquathlon, beach football, beach cricket, beach volleyball, and open water swimming.

The beach games and related activities were hosted across venues in both the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and attracted approximately 130 athletes, 70 coaches, and scores of volunteers.

“It’s amazing. I expected — based on the preparation that I heard of — that a very successful and professional event would’ve been staged.

“It was at a world-class level. I was very impressed with the organisation and the planning and the outcome of the games. I’m already looking forward to the next Special Olympics Caribbean Games in Aruba next year,” Howell said.

Beyond the sporting action on the beach, organisers hosted healthy athletes screening, a family health forum and a Caribbean Initiative Family Engagement Workshop.

Helen Reynolds-Arana, family coordinator for Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI), told the Observer that the sessions were informative.

“We were seeking the opportunity to get information on how to re-energise our family committee and I must say that participating has given me specific strategies that have been tried and proven to be successful that I can use.

“The family health forum was important because it gave me strategies to work with athletes and their families to create healthier communities.

“Our athletes with intellectual disabilities may not be able to communicate as well, so when we are not providing them with healthy meals…we end up with situations that may [affect] their long-term health. So what I learnt here will give me a platform to start talking about healthy meals and the overall impact on health,” Reynolds-Arana explained.

— Sanjay Myers