Special Olympics athletes from Vernon will look to pan for gold, silver, and bronze as they make their way through the Cariboo to B.C.'s northern capital.
The 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games go July 10-12 in Prince George. It's the third time the Games will be held in PG.
These are the first Special Olympics BC Summer Games since 2017. The 2021 event was cancelled by the pandemic. The 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games were held in Kamloops.
Vernon hosted the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games.
"Provincial Games are exciting and empowering experiences for Special Olympics BC athletes with intellectual disabilities," said Special Olympics BC on its website. "For many, these Games offer their first opportunity to experience the joy of travelling and being part of a team. They will have the chance to chase their goals and be celebrated for their abilities and their accomplishments."
A total of 20 athletes and volunteers from Vernon will be in Prince George chasing goals and helping dreams be made. Athletes include:
• Heather Jolliffe (bocce); Devin Werstuik (golf); Aleese Watkins, Ava Johnson, Christina Perkins, Darren Fisher, Justin Rasmussen (swimming); Danielle Pechet, Eric Westley, Mary Adamson, Steven Schwebbach (track and field).
Volunteers from Vernon include:
• Nadine Rose (assistant coach, 10-pin bowling); Debbie Heale (assistant coach, golf); Kristienne Krnasty, Sydney Feeney (mission staff); Kevin Browne (assistant coach), Madison Watkins (assistant coach), Michelle Wernicke (assistant coach), Marc Fisher (head coach in swimming).
Laura Murphy from Vernon is the Zone 2 Okanagan Chef de Mission.
Close to 900 athletes with intellectual disabilities from B.C. and the Yukon will compete with pride, and will be supported by nearly 300 volunteer coaches and mission staff.
Participants will come from 48 communities with the largest contingents being from the host city, Â鶹AV, Victoria, Vancouver, and Campbell River.
There are 10 sports for the Games: 10-pin bowling, basketball, bocce, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, power lifting, soccer, softball, swimming, and track and field. More than 2,400 medals will be awarded.
The youngest athlete taking part is 13, and the oldest is 78.
Athletes qualified to compete in the 2025 SOBC Games through their performances in regional qualifiers held throughout the province from February to July 2024.
The dedicated competitors will be shooting for personal-best performances, and they will also be chasing the opportunity to advance to national and international levels of competition.
Top performers in Prince George will qualify for spots on Team BC for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alberta, which will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile.
You can follow Special Olympics BC on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), @specialolympicsbc and X @SpecialOBC. The Games hashtags are #SOBCGames and #CityOfPG25!
