The Special Olympics World Games rolls into Abu Dhabi this spring. Jane McGowan talks to three Surrey-based members of Team GB...
London 2012 changed the sporting landscape forever. Not only was the Olympic Stadium packed with cheering crowds willing home Sir Mo Farah on that never-to-be-forgotten Super Saturday, but thousands also turned out for the Paralympics, watching David Weir tear up the track to win four racing golds and Ellie Simmonds sink world records in the pool.
Now there’s a new squad in town, with several Surrey athletes among those gearing up for the Special Olympics World Games to be held in Abu Dhabi in March.
Founded by the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver – a sister of US President John F Kennedy – the Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Its first World Games was held in Chicago in 1968, with around 1,000 North American athletes.
Kennedy Shriver believed that if people with intellectual disabilities received the same opportunities as everyone else, they could achieve great things – and she saw sport as the catalyst. The Special Olympics would provide “the chance to play, compete and grow”, she announced at the opening of those first World Games, more than 50 years ago.
Since then the organisation has gone global, with five million athletes from 172 countries training and competing in more than 100,000 events a year. Rhythmic gymnastics, softball, speed skating, golf: the list of featured sports is long.
Special Olympics GB alone supports more than 10,000 sportspeople, with over 27,000 sessions each year. Its stated mission is to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship”.
Meanwhile, the World Games, showpiece of the Special Olympics, looms. And Surrey will be well represented, as befits a county with a tradition of producing sporting greats.
Take Nick Silver, from Wimbledon, who is preparing to compete for the nation at golf. With a handicap of 22, the Nescot – North East Surrey College of Technology – student plays regularly at nearby Horton Park Golf Club, in Epsom, and is looking forward to stepping out onto the prestigious Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s a great chance to play somewhere you may never visit again,” says the 22-year-old, who admits to excitement mingled with nerves. “I am looking forward to meeting the person I will be playing against. But I have to be careful not to talk too much as we go round.”
As in the Paralympics, competitors are placed in different divisions within their particular discipline, thereby ensuring that they compete against those of similar disability. In golf, Special Olympians play to a points scoring system, rather than one based on strokes. Each player is assigned a caddie and the rules of the game – as set out by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews – are duly obeyed.
“Scorecards are very important. They have to be checked and checked and you are only allowed 14 clubs in the bag. It’s all very strict,” explains Nick.
“Apparently the course is near the cycle track, so we will have to be careful not to hit the ball too hard!”
They will indeed, as Redhill-based cycling star Luke Worgan is likely to be winging his way round in pursuit of more medals to go with the gold he won at the Special Olympics Anniversary Games in Scotland last summer. Luke, 19, first got into cycling after a coach from Special Olympics Mountain Biking (SOMtB) visited his school. Already a keen sportsman, he liked the sound of pedal power and was invited to start both road and track training with the team.
Mum Victoria says that it has given Luke a real confidence boost, not only in terms of sport but on a personal level too.
“Luke really enjoys competing, but he likes being part of a team too,” she says. “SOMtB has helped him get out and about. There are a lot of social events, which is great.”
Luke has even cycled abroad, on a team training trip to Spain last year. The only problem has been finding a bike suitable for one who stands at an impressive 6ft 7”.
“We realised that he needed a better bike – but they are so expensive. Then I came across Sven Cycles in Weymouth, so I contacted them and they offered to make Luke a bike for free. We are so grateful,” Victoria adds.
When we met, Luke was still awaiting delivery. He was clearly chuffed, however, at having a bespoke bicycle a la Sir Bradley Wiggins.
“It’s dark blue and gold and I can’t wait to try it,” he tells me. “And I’m very excited about the games and staying in a nice hotel.”
So too is ten-pin bowler Natalie Francis, 38, from Kingston, who trains every Tuesday and Thursday and, when, not bowling, is generally to be found dancing or swimming. After competing at the GB National Games in Sheffield in 2017, she was very excited to get the call-up for Abu Dhabi.
“We are in Dubai first and then it’s on to the competition. When I read the email saying that I’d got a place to my housemates, they were very jealous,” she reveals. “I really like winning medals. I hang them on my wall.”
Dad Colin is naturally thrilled with his daughter’s achievements and will be in the stands for the opening ceremony on March 14.
“He always cries,” says Natalie.
“Well, it’s a very proud moment,” laughs Colin. “Although it was raining so hard in Sheffield, we felt very sorry for them all. But there shouldn’t be any rain in Abu Dhabi.
“When you get to the closing ceremony you feel sad it’s over, but we keep the memories and look forward to the next one.”
Rain or not, I bet there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
Did you know?
- There are 1.5 million children and adults with an intellectual disability in Great Britain
- Each week 200 babies are born with an intellectual disability
Children with an intellectual disability are socially excluded and 8 out of 10 are bullied
Over 80% of adults with Intellectual disabilities do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity
1 in 3 people with an intellectual disability are obese
1 in 2 families with an intellectually disabled child live in poverty
To find out more about the Special Olympics visit: https://www.sosurrey.org
