The countdown is underway to the inaugural 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games (IYG) in Toronto from May 14th to the 17th.
North Bay helped kick off the 50-day countdown with a flag raising ceremony Monday morning in front of the police building.
The high school band from St. Joseph’s Scollard Hall kicked things off with some music before the media, police personnel from other areas, Special Olympians and the public heard from North Bay Deputy Police Chief Scott Tod.
Tod says this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics movement worldwide.
He says North Bay was one of 50 communities picked to raise the Special Olympics flag celebrating 50 years of competition 50 days before the IYG.
Tod says the fact that North Bay was picked as one of the 50 participating communities is recognition for the support local and area police have for the Special Olympic program in conjunction with the support from the Knights of Columbus and schools.
He adds when the community hosted the Special Olympics Winter Games in 2014 the event was “an outstanding success”.
North Bay has been involved as a sponsor and supporter of the Special Olympics for about 35 years.
“We support it because we truly believe it builds better citizens within our community at all levels through supporting and competition,” Tod said in an interview following the flag raising.
“This is one way we give back to our community. It’s one way our members are combined and united in how we support our Special Olympians from our community. But it also (shows) the spirit of the Special Olympians and what it does for our people.”
During the flag raising event, Tod also presented a special recognition medal to Rob Saunders for his years of service with Special Olympics in North Bay.
Saunders got involved in Special Olympics out of high school as a volunteer 37 years ago and he’s never looked back.
Although he gratefully accepted the medal, Saunders says e didn’t get involved for the recognition.
“I do it for the athletes,” he said.
“I’m humbled and very pleased and also a little embarrassed.”
Saunders acts as coordinator for the Special Olympics school groups in North Bay.
He says people approach him about how to get involved with Special Olympics and he shows them how.
He says over the years North Bay has produced Special Olympic champions in several sports.
There is one thing he never tires of while watching the athletes compete.
“You need to watch the look of the athletes’ faces when they compete,” he said.
“They are absolutely amazing to watch.”
Saunders will be at the IYG in May as a coach.
The IYG will have about 2,500 athletes with and without intellectual disabilities ranging in age from 13 to 21 from around the world.