Athletes eager for another Special Olympic Games outing

TWO FEMALE ATHLETES who are members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Special Olympics World Games, set for Abu Dhabi, March 14 to 21, this year, are eagerly anticipating their outing.

Laverne Allick, who had previous experience, having attended the last World Games in Los Angeles, California, USA, in 2015, wants to replicate her performance then.

A gold medallist in the 200 m in 2015, Allick said: I am hoping to do my very best, so I am training very hard for it”.

Recounting her sojourn at the last World Games, Allick told SEARCHLIGHT, “When I went to Los Angeles, I enjoyed myself, I met a lot of people and that was really nice, as I was able to experience things that I never did before”.

She noted that being involved in Special Olympics has helped her to express herself, in ways she would have previously been bashful.

Also excited to be part of the five member SVG track and field team is Anisha Sutherland.

“I am happy to go the games… I am training for it as I will be running in a relay team with different people,” Sutherland said with a broad smile.

Like Allick, Sutherland was part of the SVG team in 2015, and is looking forward to the many activities which complement the Special Olympic World Games.

Apart from Track and Field, St Vincent and the Grenadines will be represented at four other disciplines, Bocce, Football, Tennis and Swimming.

In total, there will be 25 Special Olympians, comprising of 11 footballers, Bocce – 2, Swimming – 4, Tennis – 3 and Track and Field – 5.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines team will be completed by 13 officials.

When St Vincent and the Grenadines participated in the 2015, they were represented by a 32-member delegation that comprised 26 athletes and 6 officials.

The teams returned home with 22 medals; 4 gold, 12 silver and 6 bronze.