The Battlefords chapter of Special Olympics Saskatchewan met Monday evening for the second time with a focus on volunteer and athlete registration and program development.
Cynthia Mundt, community manager, hoped by the end of the meeting there would be interest in starting four programs as the chapter got its feet wet, but she was pleasantly surprised as there were varying levels of interest in around 10 different activities.
Interest was expressed in running or competing in: floor hockey, curling, snow shoeing, swimming, track and field, bocce, bowling, equestrian, golf and a fitness program. Not all will necessarily be offered, but it provides athletes the opportunity to decide what sports they would be interested in joining. If enough athletes join, there is a volunteer willing to run the sport and local support for venues to practice in on a regular basis, then the programs would get underway.
Special Olympics at the provincial level is given a set amount of funding for the year and the money is then dished out to each community chapter based on the number of registered athletes. Special Olympics Battlefords is hoping to get as many people registered as possible before Oct. 15, which is when paperwork has to be handed in and their funding amount is determined, although they accept registration year round.
Attendance at the meeting would suggest the interest is there to make for a successful chapter in the Battlefords. Two additional tables had to be set up to fit everyone in the Don Ross Centre meeting room, with 25 or so people in attendance. There were athletes' parents, athletes themselves and people just looking to help anyway they can.
The group is always looking for more volunteers and athletes. Anyone interested in joining can email [email protected]. A Facebook page, Special Olympics Saskatchewan: Battlefords, has also been set up as a way for members to communicate with one another.
