Local athlete Carley Tucker, who won a gold medal in snowshoeing in this weekend's Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games, holds the event torch with Police Chief Paul Cook during the closing ceremonies on Saturday night. PHOTO BY LIAM BERTI
The Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games are officially over.
After two days of fierce competition and extreme elation, the 450 athletes and coaches that called North Bay home for the weekend gathered for one last celebration on Saturday night.
Some left with hardware, others didn’t. But they all left with an indisputable sense of accomplishment.
For some of the athletes, Saturday night’s closing ceremonies at Nipissing University’s Robert Surtees Athletic Centre was the most anticipated and relished moment.
Take North Bay’s own Beverly Phippen, for example. The curling athlete, who competed as a cross-country skier in 1991 as well, said being able to soak it all up with her husband of 14 years was the highlight of her weekend.
The event holds a special place in Phippen’s heart, after her and her husband, Eddy, met at the Special Olympics over 20 years ago.
“It was very awesome, I really enjoyed it,” Phippen said after the ceremony. “Meeting new friends was fun and even meeting old friends from before was great too.
“But the most exciting moment was having my husband at the closing ceremonies, it made my weekend; especially as it is his birthday,” Phippen added.
North Bay was commended by Special Olympics representatives for hosting such a remarkable event, which the athletes echoed with a standing ovation.
“Competing in our home town was really good,” said Phippen. “The last time I competed was in 1991, the first provincial Games that North Bay hosted, but to have it hosted here again this year and be playing a different sport was special.”
The coordinated effort of some 700 volunteers was acknowledged with standing ovations from the athletes and coaches on Saturday night as well.
Those who called North Bay home for the weekend also seemed incredibly thankful to the community members who made it all possible, like the participants who lined up waiting to thank and take photos with Const. Merv Shantz of the North Bay Police Service, the manager of the Games.
After an entire year dedicated to managing the event, Shantz was able to enjoy the fruits of his labour and take in a lot of the action over the past two days.
“First of all, the intense competition blew me away,” Const. Shantz said after the ceremony. “But to see them get their medals and join hands on the podium and celebrate together is what it’s all about.
“There were a lot of late nights at the office and organizing little things, but in the end it all came together the way we said it would,” the father of four added. “It’s been a great weekend.”
In what was a fitting end to an magical weekend, the athletes and coaches took to the aisles at the end of the night and danced endlessly to the live music, even though a bigger celebration awaited them next door.
They were then off to the big bash of the evening: the Athlete’s Victory Dance Party. Even though many of them said they were tired and worn out from the extraordinary events throughout the Games, nothing was stopping them from getting into that party.
“Now it’s time to go and party, have some fun and cut up the rug!” Phippen said with a contagious grin.
