Special Olympics Estevan is pleased to have most of its programs operating again.
The organization has two programs for youths, Active Start and FUNdamentals, and it also has had swimming and bowling for adults. But they have been shut down since the end of November due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Us, along with many, many other groups, got shut down in November, and have been perpetually watching the announcements to see if we were going to get back up running with programs for the winter,” said Conrad Meili with Special Olympics Estevan
Special Olympics Saskatchewan has cancelled all programming, but has created an exception application process that required programs to submit information, including who’s involved and what they want to do. Then the information is taken to the government’s business response team.
The local Spiecial Olympics chapter submitted an application to run its programs. They pointed out that in the fall, they had some really hard-working coaches and program co-ordinators who tailored lesson plans within facility, sport-specific, Special Olympic and Saskatchewan Health Authority parameters.
“One of the underlying facts, of course, was how well southeast Saskatchewan, particularly Zone 4, has been performing in the statistics of COVID-19 cases.”
South East Zone 4, with a population of more than 31,000, had one active COVID-19 case as of Monday.
Special Olympics Estevan found out last week they had received the green light for swimming, which resumed on Saturday, and FUNdamentals and Active Start, which will start up again on Friday. Bowling is still on hold.
“Saturday we got our first swimming lesson in, and fortunately I was able to go there at the start of it, and see a whole bunch of very happy athletes and volunteers back in the pool and being active and having some camaraderie and joy,” said Meili.
There were six to eight participants for each of Active Start and FUNdamentals, and six to eight for swimming, allowing Special Olympics to fall within provincial restrictions for practices. The organization does not have leagues or competitions for its athletes.
Meili said they still take the COVID-19 precautions seriously despite the low case load. Active Start and FUNdamentals participants will now have to wear masks during the sessions.
“Previously we would wear masks into the facility, and then they’d be able to take them off. It’s similar to what you would find with a fitness program,” said Meili.
Coaches for Active Start and FUNdamentals are trying to squeeze eight weeks of lessons into four.
“We’re always working on things like non-sport specific athletic skills, hand-eye co-ordination, dribbling, throwing, kicking, and things that are transferable in a few sports. There are lots of obstacle courses and those kinds of activities.”
Once the programs wrap up in March, Special Olympics will shift its programming to spring and summer efforts.
Swimming, meanwhile, is treated like an Aquasize class. They have a great head coach who brings fun programs for the kids.
Meili noted that Special Olympics Estevan is the only one in the province that is currently offering in-person activities.
“We were already on a very short list in the fall. A number of communities just decided to not run. It’s a lot of work. You have four detailed sets of parameters that you have to fit within. There can be a lot of variables inside of all that, and a lot of push-back and challenge along the way.”
He believes it speaks to the resiliency of the group, and the efforts of local people to keep the programs running.
Meili noted Special Olympics wants to bridge the gap in the age of their participants. They have had an exceptional turnout for Active Start and FUNdamentals, and while they have some in the late teens and early 20s, many of their athletes are older. They’re looking to find sports to appeal to other ages.
“Special Olympics has a saying that you can compete from eight to 88, so you can get out there early and stay out there late,” said Meili.
