Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 137

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Ron Cambridge brings Special Olympics back to Cornwall

By Christine Ouellet you can do the more serious competition
where you could participate at your
local, then regional, provincial, national
ecently, Ron Cambridge moved
Rfrom Peterborough where he and world games and Olympics. I had
was involved with the local Special the chance to attend the World Games,
Olympics. Since Covid, Cornwall’s which are like the regular Olympics, but
Special Olympics had been put aside, and they are opened by the Law Enforcement
now he wants to bring it back on track Torch Run (LETR), where police officers
for the good of the Cornwall community. carry the torch into the stadium. This is
Ron says: “We wanted to start with very impressive; you feel very proud of
one simple sport; BOCCE and see from being part of the community.”
there if we can expand to other sports. Special Olympics are funded by the
In Peterborough, we had basketball, government and sponsored by the LETR,
soccer kayak. Bocce is for individuals; which is constantly doing fundraising
it is a little bit like lawn bowling. It is activities on their behalf. They
played with a large ball and players have include any sports such as basketball,
small balls that they try to get closer to soccer, hockey, swimming, kayaking,
the large ball, knocking each other out. gymnastics, and any sport where there is
It is not a hard sport, and it is easy to an interest. Whenever there is a demand,
get familiar with. You play in teams of he says that the Special Olympics will
2-4 players. My goal is to get people support it.
involved and participate, and everybody Ron is advertising and putting flyers
is welcome.” around. The Ontario region wants to do
Special Olympics are fairly recently a newsletter which would be a provincial
founded in 1984, they have grown and bulletin that would be distributed, online
evolved. It involves matching people and in the newspapers, to inform people
with any kind of disabilities with people and get them to join. He tells people to
without disabilities of all ages and social come in and try it, it is a good way to
backgrounds. People are integrated and socialize. It is a great opportunity for
they become part of a team. People as parents to come out and socialize, they
young as 12 years old can participate and bring their lawn chairs, sit around, and
there is no upper age limit. encourage and support their athletes. He
They are also looking for anybody has all the equipment and the required Ron Cambridge with a participant in Peterboorough Photo Submitted
who wants to volunteer, such as high permissions from officials to start the
school students who must do their 40 club. competition at the same time. Everybody that will take place every Thursday
hours of community work. He wants The first meeting is May 30th, from enjoys a little competition, and they try evening from 6 – 8 p.m., at the Benson
to reach out to them because there is 6 to 8 p.m., at the Benson Center in the to get closer, knocking each other out. Center. A special thank you to Lorne
already a Special Olympic program in rear. “I will introduce the sport, explain It is not a hard sport, and it is easy to Taillon from Parks & Recreation and
high schools, and they can volunteer the game and the rules and we will do get familiar with, you play in teams of Council #755 Knights of Columbus for
with us. a try-out BOCCE for fun and if we get 2-4 players. My goal is to get people their support.
He explains, “There are two pathways enough people, maybe we can get one involved and participate and everybody ronaldcambridge@hotmail.com
in Special Olympics; the recreational, or two teams. And we will start with the is welcome.” https://www.specialolympics.ca/
where you just come out and play, or idea of practicing and then have a little Ron is organizing an 8-week program ways-give/law-enforcement-torch-runr