‘To see them coming off the airplane, and the smile on their faces, we all know it is now began’
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Groups of athletes competing within the Particular Olympics Canada Winter Video games touched down in Calgary Sunday from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and P.E.I.
About 190 athletes had been greeted by cheering organizers, keen followers and Harry the Horse on the Calgary Worldwide Airport, with extra on the way in which forward of the Video games’ opening ceremony on Feb. 25.
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Going down from Feb. 27 to March 2, the Video games will welcome greater than 4,000 athletes, coaches, workforce assist employees, households and pals.
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Jessica Cranton, a Particular Olympic determine skater for workforce Nova Scotia, was among the many athletes who arrived on Sunday.
“I’m actually grateful to be right here,” Cranton stated, mentioning that competing can be a chance to go to family and friends.
“Now we get to all be collectively as a household, and coming in and seeing all of the individuals — and Harry the Horse — and the youngsters, it was simply wonderful,” she stated.
The Video games are Cranton’s fourth occasion on the nationwide degree. She trains 13 hours per week, on high of full-time employment. “There was no less than 5 competitions this yr, It’s been a variety of journey.
“You’re coaching up till the minute you compete,” she stated.
Darby Taylor, 29, has autism and an mental incapacity. He’s serving as an athlete ambassador for this yr’s Video games and stated he’s very glad to lastly see the primary athletes touching down.
“I’m feeling wonderful, simply to greet all these athletes which have educated so very onerous to get to the Particular Olympics Canada Winter Video games,” stated Taylor.
Taylor has been with Particular Olympics Calgary for 17 years, competing in varied sports activities alongside the way in which. He additionally spent years volunteering at Canada’s Sports activities Corridor of Fame, the Army Museum and Crowchild Twin Area.
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Co-chair for the 2024 Video games Cheryl Bernard stated that it’s been a very long time ready for these Video games, and so they’re excited to placed on one of the best Video games for the athletes.
“To see them coming off the airplane, and the smile on their faces, we all know it’s now began,” stated Bernard.
A mix of being the primary Video games for the reason that pandemic, Tourism Calgary’s involvement, and a strong bid have factored into an inflow of volunteers this yr, at round 1,500.
“The eagerness you simply see within the metropolis, the sponsors, it was actually really easy to get sponsors to type of join and say, ‘We need to assist these Video games, we need to placed on an important Video games for these athletes,’” she stated.
“If you meet these athletes and see these Video games, they’re inspiring.”
Bernard stated that the broader hope with these Video games is that they open doorways for these with disabilities.
“Now I begin to see their skills, not their disabilities,” she stated. “That’s what we actually hope from these Video games, is that individuals begin to have a look at these people in a different way, after which they get employed, they get jobs, and folks give them an opportunity.”
— With recordsdata from Laurice Gomes and Brent Calver
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