The Rotary Club of Osoyoos heard a presentation last week about Special Olympics B.C. and the local program in the South Okanagan. From left are Reanne Holden, manager of community development for Special Olympics B.C. in the Okanagan; Alberto Holz, Special Olympics athlete; Lee Chic, local co-ordinator and coach; and Karen Leigh (Hawitt), Rotary president elect, who chaired the meeting. (Richard McGuire photo)
When Lee Chic got up to speak about Special Olympics at a recent Rotary Club of Osoyoos meeting, she wanted to get a common misconception out of the way.
“I have a quiz,” the retired educator said. “What’s the difference between Special Olympics and Paralympics?”
Hands quickly shot up and one Rotarian interjected with the right answer – Special Olympics is for people with a developmental disability and Paralympics is for those with physical disabilities.
“Perfect. Thank you,” replied Chic. “I can’t tell you how many calls I get when the Paralympic games are on with people wondering where our athletes are.”
Chic, who co-ordinates Special Olympics South Okanagan as a volunteer, returned to Canada in 2004, settling in Osoyoos, after a long career in California.
Roughly 50 athletes in Osoyoos, Oliver and area take part in Special Olympics South Okanagan, Chic said. They range in age from seven to 74 and take part in bowling, curling, swimming and bocce.
Accompanying Chic were Reanne Holden, manager of community development for Special Olympics B.C. in the Okanagan, and Alberto Holz, one of the Osoyoos athletes in the program.
Special Olympics is international, Holden explained, with organizations at the North American, Canadian, British Columbian and local levels.
“We provide people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to enrich their lives through sport and to have positive sport experiences,” Holden said.
There are currently 4,400 athletes in the province participating in 18 sports. In B.C. there are 57 “locals” representing communities such as the South Okanagan, she said.
The program is driven by volunteers, with some of them coaching, others running programs and others in various support roles.
An important aspect, Chic suggested, is socialization. The athletes learn to interact with one another and they have fun.
Holz participates in all four of the sports offered through Special Olympics South Okanagan. A serious burn injury years ago left him with limited leg mobility, but with a powerful upper body, he performs well in swimming and bowling.
“He doesn’t have very good leg movements in the pool, so he counts on his upper body strength to propel him through the water,” said Chic. “He has a bag of ribbons over there, so you can imagine the determination of this young man.”
Holz has gone to provincial games where he won a gold medal for bowling the most pins over average. He passed his heavy medals around the room.
“I love to compete and not only am I doing it for myself, but I am also doing it for my competitors and showing them what I can do,” Holz told the Rotarians. “And they can show me the same thing. What inspires them inspires me as well.”
Holz said his favourite sport is bowling because he’s able to do it mainly using his arms. Nonetheless, every time he throws the ball, he falls and lands on his butt because of his poor leg control.
“I have to tell you that I don’t think there’s an athlete in our local that I respect more than this guy,” said Chic. “If he doesn’t get a strike or a spare, he falls 90 times a night. You know how many times I’ve heard him complain? Zero. He loves it.”
Chic said the local program has the funds it needs thanks to the generosity of three area businesses – the Watermark Beach Resort, the Richter Pass Motor Inn and the Gallagher Lake Lodge.
The athletes make money for the program by handling the recycling for Watermark, which also donates equipment, shirts and other needs.
Nonetheless, Special Olympics South Okanagan still needs volunteers either to help with one-off special events like a bocce invitational tournament in June or on an ongoing basis.
Chic would also like to find somebody who can run a snowshoeing program for the athletes.
“If you are interested in helping, it doesn’t have to be an ongoing thing,” she said. “Though it could be. We would love to have you.”
Lee Chic can be reached at 250-495-6617. Reanne Holden can be reached in Kelowna at 778-581-0511.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
