Five athletes will be representing Dominica in the biggest sports and humanitarian event in the world, the Special Olympics World Summer Games from July 25 to August 7 in Los Angeles, California.
They are Crispine Dailey, Micheal Detouche, Claudius Shipley and Stephanie Laronde competing in track and field and Adrina Aaron, competing in Bocce.
The team leaves the island on Tuesday, July 21.
The athletes will be accompanied by Head Coach of Special Olympics Dominica, Imelda Aaron, Assistant Bocce Coach and Deputy Head of Delegation, Charla Luckie, Assistant Track and Field Coach, Madine Pierre-Louis and Head of Delegation and Chairman of Special Olympics Dominica, Ainsworth Irish.
Irish said the athletes will be competing in two sports disciplines; athletics (track and field) and Bocce.
He noted that the event is expected to attract 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers with an anticipated 500,000 spectators.
Irish stated further that the athletes have been training diligently for the opportunity to represent Dominica in this major international event.
In the 2010 Special Olympics Caribbean Games, held in Jamaica, Dominica sent a small team seven athletes.
Irish said that all seven athletes returned home with gold, silver or Bronze medals.
In April telecommunications giant, Digicel and the government of Dominica presented donations in the tune of EC$30,000 to assist the athletes in participating in the event.
According to Irish, besides some fund raising activities, held by the athletes and the coaches, a number of donations cans were placed at business places and over $2.000 was collected.
The Dominica California Association (DCA) based in Los Angeles, CA. hosted two fund-raising events to sponsor two of the five Special Athletes. To date, we have raised approx. $3700 thanks to the support of the same few Dominicans (about 20) who came to the fundraising events, the efforts of the many non-Dominicans supporters who came to purchase the bakes, codfish, fried fish, pelau, etc. and the few Dominicans who contributed on-line and sent checks via mail.
We are still hopeful that the spirit of giving to worthy causes such as this will ignite in the hearts of our fellow-Domiincans, who still wrestle with nonchalance, indifference and frugality.
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
― Winston S. Churchill
Good luck to them, they are people too. lets pray for every one safe trip, thanks to all those who made their contributions. Your humble servant did since last year. But shame on some in the wider public if what was reported is true Donation bins wers placed at various places of business{how many, and where they were placed was not highlited!. neverthless a measly $2.000.00 was donated by the wider public?? maybe its a typo error. but that as it is was a big failure. Especially in a certain case one person donated $1000.00. ## no name no warrant! some surely did not put their money where their mouth was. { or where the bins were.
Very interesting they are not left behind. Good luck and do your best.
blessings guys so proud you guys flying our flag high 767 rep.
All the best to our special ones. God’s treasures.
Good Luck to a special group. I will be cheering for all of out special athletes.
Go make the country proud. Godspeed!! good vibes
My padna E, all the best, hope you do well.