Over 100 Special Olympics Athletes All Smiles At Basketball Championship Qualifier

Over 100 smiling athletes were shooting hoops at the Special Olympics Ontario Basketball School Championships Qualifier at St. Peter’s Secondary School on Thursday.

Grade 9 St. Peter Catholic Secondary School student Alden Francis, 14, is one of over 100 students and 30 teams participating in the Special Olympics Basketball Basketball Championship Qualifier. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

There were 30 teams from seven schools (Norwood District High School, TASSS, Crestwood, Adam Scott, Kenner Collegiate, Holy Cross and St. Peter’s Secondary School) were competing to qualify for the School Provincial Championships held on June 10-12 in Chatham-Kent.

This year’s event had more than last year’s which had 75 athletes. The increase in attendance is a positive sign that sports are growing for Special Olympics athletes according to Ernie Ellement, tournament co-organizer.

“It's great to see the community is jumping on board,” he said. “It's a growing, wonderful sport and we're going to keep it going. Everybody's getting baskets, everybody's been getting smiles and that's what it's all about.”

The athletes were cheered on for every basket made by faculty, spectator students, family and cheerleaders.

St. Peter’s grade 9 student Alden Francis loves the feeling he gets when he scores a basket as it’s not just for himself but benefits his teammates.

“I feel happy and I feel good for my team,” said Francis. “I like teamwork, I love the sport and staying active.”

The athletes displayed tons of sportsmanship toward opposing teams by complimenting their play and giving handshakes after each game.

“They're amazing kids. We all get together as educators and we support our kids and schools every day, day in, day out,” explained Ellement. “We want to make sure that they have the best possible experience when they go to high school or when they participate in the community. We want create opportunities for all of our kids with intellectual disabilities to get together and participate in all these sports, support one another and come away with something.”

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