Volunteers staying with joy of Special Olympics

Woodrow “Killy” Williams and Francis “Pess” Llewellyn are committed to the cause of Special Olympics.

The two have been involved for many years, Williams in the sporting aspects, and Llewellyn in the field of culture, namely the steel pan.{{more}}

Both spoke to SEARCHLIGHT last Saturday, during the National Games, which were held at the Victoria Park.

Williams said that he first got involved in Special Olympics in 1980, when he was invited to the games to get a “laugh.”

“Today I am laughing, not at the athletes, but the joy I get from seeing them perform, despite their physical deficiencies …this is my joy… this is my life, Special Olympics … Look at the athletes’ faces … That is my joy,” Williams re-emphasized.

Williams underlined that through his exposure to Special Olympics, he has been able to receive training in various disciplines.

Williams revealed that he has since passed on his knowledge, which has seen the introduction of floor hockey to Barbados and St Lucia.

Additionally, he has had the privilege of attending a few World Special Olympics Summer Games in a technical/coaching capacity.

Meanwhile, Llewellyn, who tutored a steel band from the School for Children with Special Needs, which entered the Junior Panorama competition in 1994, recalled his experiences then.

“It was indeed a special occasion for me, as it the first time that I was teaching persons with such disabilities… The drummer was deaf; one of the tenor men is blind and he learned to play all the instruments, including the drums in eighteen months…That again was a personal feat for me,” Llewellyn said.

Llewellyn said he was able to associate with his charges, as he was diagnosed as being dyslexic.

“Many persons may not know that, but it was the steel pan which helped me to get over that,” Llewellyn recalled.

He stated that he is eager to have the process restarted and is eagerly anticipating the reintroduction of the steel pan.

“I am ready and willing, but they need instruments,” Llewellyn claimed.

Both Williams and Llewellyn heaped praise on the tenacity of Terrence Davis, one of the present driving forces behind Special Olympics St Vincent and the Grenadines and concurred that he should be among the list of sporting ambassadors.

During last Friday’s opening ceremony, it was announced that Davis will be the Caribbean athletes’ representative at a Special Olympics conference, to be held in Los Angeles, California, USA.(RT)