By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff ReporterSPECIAL OLYMPICS Caribbean (SOC), a non-profit organisation which co-ordinates sporting competitions for mentally retarded persons, launched the 2004 Inaugural Caribbean Games at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday.
The Olympics, scheduled for July 8-11, 2004 and to be hosted by Jamaica at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Bowl and the National Stadium, is expected to feature more than 800 athletes and 200 coaches and officials from 20 Caribbean countries.
The athletes will participate in five events: footsol (five-a-side football), athletics, aquatics, bocce (a form of bowling) and, for the first time, cricket.
Founder of Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ), Dr. Lucille Buchanan, shared some of her experiences of when she first started in the early 1970s and how delighted she was to hear Jamaica would host the Special Olympics.
"Special Olympics Jamaica and the Caribbean has always been dear to my heart. And today when I learnt that Jamaica would host the first Caribbean Games it was like having a child who is ready for graduation for a first degree to enter the work world," Buchanan said.
Guest speaker at the launch, Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, Community and Sports, lauded the Olympic committee for its vision and tireless efforts.
"The staging of the Games is a very bold move for the Special Olympics Caribbean, which was only established last year. Congratulations are certainly in order for this fairly new organisation which works with programmes in 23 Caribbean territories," Simpson Miller said.
"I am certain that the Games will mark the beginning of a wonderful new tradition and I know we can look forward to a memorable occasion, characterised by a unique Caribbean flavour. I join Special Olympics Jamaica in acknowledging that it is a great honour for Jamaica to have been chosen as host for these, the very first regional Special Olympics Games," she said.
Also present at the launch were the Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, who welcomed the hosting of the Games to the city; and chairman of SOJ, Carlton Davis, who assured everyone of his unswerving support.
SOC is also on a drive to raise US$350,000 which is what has been estimated the staging of the Games will cost.
At present, about 6,000 athletes from 23 islands participate in a year-round programme of 21 different sports. The Special Olympics are aiming to reach an estimated 140,000 Caribbean residents who have mental retardation.
