Ferdinand Bibby, national director of Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago, says his country’s staging of the first-ever Caribbean Beach Games in November is a fitting example of regional unity.

The historic three-day event brought together Special Olympics programmes from across the Caribbean as athletes with intellectual disabilities showcased their skills as they competed against and built relationships with their peers.

The athletes competed in aquathlon, beach bocce, beach football, beach cricket, beach volleyball, and open water swimming.

“It was really a dream come true, because we have been planning and hoping for this from before COVID-19. It was great to see everyone was able to come and, more importantly, was able to enjoy the event,” Bibby told the Jamaica Observer.

“The fact that we were able to stage the beach games in both islands — in Trinidad and in Tobago — gave other Caribbean countries the opportunity to see what we have to offer. We have high-quality, built-for-purpose facilities in Trinidad and in Tobago… so it was good that we could offer that aspect. Athletes were able to come and see a different part of Trinidad and Tobago,” he explained.

The Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago boss called for greater camaraderie among the regional countries so as to foster more effective development.

“I want the programmes in the Caribbean to continue to work together, grow from strength to strength, because that’s what is missing from the Caribbean — regular regional games. So, we look forward to the programmes working together to ensure that we have that on the regional calendar. We could rotate the type of sport but we need to have something on the calendar that we in the Caribbean can identify with.”

Aside from sporting activities on the beach, organisers hosted healthy athletes’ screenings, a family health forum, and a Caribbean Initiative Family Engagement Workshop.

The events attracted approximately 130 athletes, 70 coaches, and scores of volunteers. The tiny island of Aruba is scheduled to stage the next regional games in 2025.

United States-based Shawn Ferguson, the Special Olympics chief global government relations officer, said he was impressed by what he saw in Trinidad and Tobago and also by the similarly successful bocce tournament and business meeting held in the Cayman Islands in May.

“I know from being involved in these sorts of events how much work goes into it. I really want to tip my hat off to the volunteers, the programme’s staff, and the regional staff… and all the staff that came here. When we were in the Cayman Islands that was another huge event, and now to Trinidad… you can feel the momentum — things are really building in [the Caribbean],” he noted.

Coming out of the beach games, Trinidad and Tobago’s Sport Minister Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis said her country is committed to sign the Special Olympics global leadership coalition for inclusion, which ratifies agreements between national programmes and their governments.

The global leadership coalition fosters increased collaboration at the policy level, with aims to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Jamaica, through its Ministry of Sport, signed the global leadership coalition in January.

Ferguson said he welcomes the development.

“As the head of government relations I’m especially excited about Jamaica having joined the global leadership coalition for inclusion. And Trinidad and Tobago, as the minister mentioned, are joining the global leadership coalition for inclusion.

“These are two countries that can be leaders in this region… it’s a real testament to the people and the leadership here that they put disabilities and inclusive education through sport as a priority” he explained.

Douglas Alexander, past president of Lions Club International — major partners of the Special Olympics movement since 2001 — also praised the staging of the inaugural beach games.

“This event was great and was really inspiring to see. I personally have been supporting Special Olympics since 1999. There’s something about athletes with disabilities that touches my heart; they should be included in all the sports. We were at the World Games in Berlin, Germany, last year, and to see athletes from all around the world persevering and pushing forward, I get chills when I talk about it,” he told the Observer.

Ferguson,… it’s a real testament to the people and the leadership here that they put disabilities and inclusive education through sport as a priority

BIBBY… I want the programmes in the Caribbean to continue to work together, grow from strength to strength, because that’s what is missing from the Caribbean