SUMMERSIDE – It has been a big week for Special Olympics on P.E.I.
Competition in the Special Olympics Canada 2018 bowling championships got underway Wednesday, and will conclude with the closing ceremonies at Credit Union Place in Summerside on Saturday night.
Competition was held at three facilities. The fivepin action took place at Murphy’s Community Centre in Charlottetown, and the tenpin athletes competed at Credit Union Place and the Tyne Valley lanes.
Serge Boulianne of Toronto is the manager of games and competition for Special Olympics Canada. He discussed the national bowling event with the Journal Pioneer on Friday afternoon:
Click here for related story on P.E.I.'s tenpin team winning bronze medal:
JP: From Special Olympics Canada’s perspective, how have things gone this week?
SB: “Things are going very well. Our athletes have been welcomed so well by all the volunteers, and everything has been rolling so smoothly. They are so excited to be here on the Island, get a chance to compete and show their talent to everyone.”
JP: How has using three different venues worked out from a logistical point of view?
SB: “To be honest with you, we’ve had some challenges, but these challenges have been overcome. People in Special Olympics are very flexible, and they adapt to pretty much any situation, which is great. They make do, and they make the best of the situation. Where we have two bowling centres (Summerside and Tyne Valley), 20 minutes apart, sometimes when it comes to supervision of athletes from the coaches’ perspective they had to adapt and adjust how they usually work with their athletes, because we are not just at one bowling centre. But people have been really, really good with that. Honestly, they are just happy to be here and bowl.”
JP: With over 400 athletes competing this week, is that a good number for the national bowling championships?
SB: “Actually, it’s pretty typical of what we have in bowling. Typically, bowling is part of our National Games, but because our National Games are in Nova Scotia (Antigonish) and we are not able to host the bowling, that’s why we came here. The numbers are similar to what we would have at these events. People would say it’s a smaller event because it’s two sports as opposed to being eight, nine or 10 sports, but reality is it’s the same thing. It’s travel, transportation, meals, it’s opening ceremony, closing ceremony.”
JP: Is there anything Special Olympics Canada learned from this event, or any constructive criticism they can pass along to local organizers, that may help in hosting future events?
SB: “To be honest with you, I don’t know if I have any recommendations. I would just say what’s great with P.E.I., and it’s always been like that and was great in 2004 when we came for our National Games, is we just feel so welcome here on the Island. That’s something we know, that no matter what the challenges are, that Islanders will come through and be there to support our teams. That’s the big thing for us. Our coaches are willing to deal with any challenges or anything that happens, but having the support of all these volunteers is amazing. I don’t know I have any recommendations other than just keep being who you are and so welcoming and more people will want to come here and organize events such as this one.”
JP: What can the public attending Saturday morning’s tenpin medal presentations at Credit Union Place expect?
SB: “There will be lots of medals being awarded. We have four different sets of medals that will be handed out – teams, doubles, singles and an all-event, the best bowler with all nine games they played. It definitely is an exciting time. For a lot of athletes, they bowl and do their best, but they don’t care so much about the score. It’s always kind of a surprise when you tell them they won a medal, because they are not looking at every score. Some are, but in general they are doing their best and if they get a medal they get a medal, and they will be happy about it.”
JP: Is it safe to call it a successful event?
SB: “I think we can say that. It’s pretty safe to say.”
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