Carlyle's Carter Morrison not only experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as a Ronald McDonald House ambassador at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio- he also made Olympic history. Carter led both Team Canada and the Mongolian Olympic team into Rio's 80,000-seat Maracana Stadium for the opening ceremony-alongside each nation's official flagbearer. He and his fellow McDonalds' “Olympic Kids” were the first ever to be allowed to do so-for an audience of billions watching from around the world.
“McDonalds has been taking kids to the Olympics to represent Ronald McDonald Houses since 1986,” says Carter's dad and travel companion, Trevor Morrison. “But this is the first time ever that the kids could walk in the opening ceremonies.”
“We had no idea who would walk with which team,” says Trevor. “The kids rehearsed all week, and the parents weren't allowed to watch, because the organizers wanted to make sure nothing to do with the ceremony would leak out before it began.”
“The night of the ceremony, I was up in the stands with all of the other parents-from around the world-some of the kids didn't end up taking part, because it was just too much for them. But when Carter came out with Canada, our whole group went crazy. Parents from other countries were shouting, 'Carter got Canada! Carter got Canada!'”
“I have to admit, I shed a few tears.”
Carter says, “I didn't know I was getting Canada, but everyone knew I wanted it. I thought I would be nervous, but I wasn't.”
“I carried a little tree and they'll plant it,” adds Carter. “After I finished walking around the stadium with Canada, I came back and they sent me out to walk with Mongolia. It was cool to be able to do it twice, but with Canada, I was more excited, because that's my home country.”
Using the hashtag and motto #FriendsWin, McDonalds Olympics Kids program brought nearly 100 young people from around the world to Brazil. All of them have stayed in Ronald MacDonald Houses-often with their families- while undergoing medical treatment-and while they and their parents were in Rio, they all stayed together in the same hotel and toured and travelled together in an effort to embody global friendship.
Carter-who was born with achondroplasia-has stayed in Ronald McDonald houses in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba since he was a baby. His longstanding relationship with the charity and his visits for nearly12 years to Ronald McDonald Houses in all three prairie provinces made him a natural choice to represent the organization in Brazil. As one of only five Canadians who were selected to attend the Rio Games as an ambassador, Carter was the only one who was chosen outright for the honour.
“A lot of the kids had to enter contests or otherwise compete for the chance to go to Rio,” says Treavor. “But Carter was asked to go without having to do any of that.”
The Morrison men were on Olympic duty from August 2 to 8. After being taken to their hotel from the airport, Carter was outfitted in Olympic gear.
“I didn't wear any of the clothes from my suitcase,” he says. “We were given clothes to wear from McDonalds and a nice kid from Chile gave me a T-shirt, too.” During the lead-up to the August 5th opening ceremony, the pair received a daily itinerary, which included regular trips to local steakhouses for supper, plenty of rehearsal time for the Games' official opening, and some once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“They recreated a Brazilian Carnival for the kids,” says Trevor. “It was absolutely amazing-from the costumes, the dancing and singing. The kids even got to participate, too.”
The pair also joined the Ronald McDonald Olympic Kids contingient on a trip to visit the country's iconic Statue of Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks Rio de Janeiro. Carter's mother, Lisa Morrison-who watched the opening ceremony in Carlyle- asked her son to take a photo of himself at the statue, which he did.
“When you're up there, you see everything,” says Carter. “And I just thought of all the people supporting me, being there.”
The pair also saw American tennis star Venus Williams compete. “She was pretty good,” says Carter, adding “Her serve must be as fast as the speed limit on the highway.”
Trevor says watching his son lead Team Canada-along with flagbearer and gold medallist, Rosie MacLennan-is his favourite Olympic moment, “without a doubt.” However, prior to the trip, he expressed the hope that he and Carter would get the opportunity to watch a Brazilian soccer game, because “they're soccer-crazy there.”
“I saw an amazing soccer game there,” smiles Trevor. “On our last day there, they took the kids for a picnic outside. All of the kids from Ronald McDonald Houses were there and so were the parents. It wasn't planned, but suddenly, someone threw a soccer ball, and before you know it, there are 90 or so kids playing, then the security guards join in, then some other guys who were working nearby join in, and you've got this huge soccer game happening. And three monkeys even showed up!”
“Witnessing the friendship and the camaraderie of the group was amazing,” says Trevor. “Carter made a lot of friends, whether there was a language barrier or not. We took some Town of Carlyle pins with us and nobody could believe we came from a community of only 1,500 people, but everybody knows where Carlyle is now.”
“The number-one thing I look at now is that if you take politics and greed and money out of the world, these kids really have it figured out. With them, it was all about friendship and helping each other. It was pretty cool.”
'I made a lot of new friends,” says Carter. “A lot of them were American kids, because we both speak English, but we could all play soccer together and we did. It was great. One nice kid gave me a shirt from Chile and the kids from Japan were excited about the Olympics there in 2020.”
“They were sharing stuff and really living up to #FriendsWin,” says Trevor. “They were playing soccer together, not even with a common language. The friendship and camaraderie of the group-and the parents-was just amazing.”
Carter's mom, Lisa, says: “I'm really just lost for words. Carter and Trevor experienced it there. And I was so excited and so overwhelmed when I saw how thrilled and happy for Carter people were here at home. We are all so grateful for the big welcome home Carter received here in Carlyle.”
“It's overwhelming and emotional.”
“Carter is a kid who loves sports and doesn't get to play a lot of them,” adds Trevor. “So the fact that he gets to take part in the biggest sporting event in the world and raise awareness for Ronald McDonald House...Well, it's amazing.”
Even before the opening ceremony was over, there was evidence that Carter had fulfilled his mission as an ambassador for Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide.
Morrison family friend, Nicole Currie-who attended high school in Wawota-received the following message from her former classmate and exchange student, Brazilian Anna Augusta Fleury:
“Hi Nicole, I loved seeing that young man Carter at the Olympic opening ceremony. I have a friend whose son has the same condition and they were very happy their son was represented at that moment. How amazing it is for me to find out Carter is Canadian and from southeast Sask. So happy! Hope he enjoyed his experience and his time down here.”
Lisa says, “Hearing that is overwhelming and really, what it's all about. McDonald's and their charity-Ronald McDonald Houses-really have a compelling commitment to chidren. They have embodied a spirit of friendship and giving back to Carter and our family. And for that, we are forever grateful.”
Carter describes his entire Olympic adventure as: “Pretty amazing-a lot amazing! I'd really like to thank everyone for supporting me.”
