By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
An evening of celebration marked the official opening of the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 on Tuesday evening (Feb. 27) which includes a bowling team from Oliver and Osoyoos.
The event – featuring four days of competition across eight sports – brings together over 1,200 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff from 12 provinces and territories. All told some 4,000 people including family and supporters will gather in the city for the games.
Part of that group of athletes are five pin bowlers, coaches and volunteers from Oliver and Osoyoos who earned their spot at the Calgary games after returning from the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops last February bearing gold medals.
The last practice for “The Brats” bowling team before heading off to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 on Monday, Feb. 26. The team is comprised of (left to right) Travis Block (Oliver), Ryan Richter (Osoyoos), Bobby Brimacombe and Angela Flannigan (both from Oliver), and Sascha Bayliss (Osoyoos). Coach Pat Krieger (Osoyoos) missing from photo.
In order to get to Kamloops, the team competed in the regional qualifiers during the winter of 2022 in order to qualify for the 2023 SOBC Winter Games.
Named “The Brats,” the team consists of Osoyoos team members Sascha Bayliss, Ryan Richter, and Pat Krieger (coach), while the Oliver team members are Angela Flannigan, Travis Block, and Bobby Brimacombe.
A key part of the opening included the Parade of Athletes which painted a vibrant picture of diversity and determination. The Flame of Hope, a beacon representing the collective spirit of the athletes, was carried by torchbearers through the arena before the cauldron was lit.
Speaking to the Times Chronicle during their last practice on Friday, Feb. 23 the team was ecstatic over not just the coming competition but the journey to get there. Most of the team members had already packed their bags and were counting the days until the volunteers would drive them to Penticton for their flight to Calgary.
“We’re excited and confident that we will come back with our second gold medal,” says Block confidently as his teammates wholeheartedly nod and voice their agreement.
Angela Flannigan fires away.
Unfortunately, the team’s aspirations will hit the proverbial glass ceiling at this event because while it acts as a qualifier for the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, five pin bowling is only played in Canada meaning this is as far as the team can advance.
BC is fielding seven teams for the Five Pin Bowling category and the South Okanagan bowlers will compete in both team and individual competition.
Speaking for the team, bowler Travis Block said: “We would like to thank our coach Pat Krieger [who has been involved in coaching for the Special Olympics bowling team for almost 20 years] for taking the time to come and train us on Fridays here to get ready for Nationals.”
Lee Chic, South Okanagan coordinator for Special Olympics BC, adds that the team has had two practice sessions a week at Kobau Lanes Bowling Centre in Osoyoos with the regular Monday session added on with a Friday afternoon practice since the beginning of the year to help prepare for the games.
Ryan Richter takes aim.
Block added that the team has been training in the gym both in Oliver and Osoyoos with the team also thanking Don Wrigglesworth for his assistance in the gym, as well as Chic who has also been involved with the Special Olympics for nearly 20 years.
The team has also been provided with uniforms including a jacket, five shirts, a pair of black pants, scarf, joggers, etc. And there is a list of what to wear for each specific event. The uniforms are kept under wraps until the opening ceremony.
Schedules and live streaming of the competition can be found at the Special Olympics site and for streaming visit here.
The eight sports include 5-Pin Bowling, Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing and Speed Skating.
The Special Olympics is supported by numerous local community organizations and individuals.
“The Brats” after their gold medal win last year in Kamloops qualified them for the Calgary Winter Games this year.
