SONL Summer Games will draw a fine crowd

Opening ceremonies tonight in St. John’s, competition Friday and Saturday in metro area

The Techiniplex in the Pleasantville area of St. John’s will be crowded tonight for the opening ceremonies of the 2017 Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador (SONL) Summer Games.

With more than 330 athletes scheduled to compete in the Games and around 700 friends, family members and volunteers expected to take in the opening ceremonies, along with coaches and officials, attendance numbers should reach into four figures.

Competition in bowling, bocce, golf swimming, athletics, powerlifting and rhythmic gymnastics is set to begin Friday and continue Saturday at venues in St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise and C.B.S.

Closing ceremonies are Saturday night at the Re/max Centre in St. John’s.

Nearly 700 athletes competed in regional events across the province to earn the right to compete in these Games, from which a number will go on to national competition at the next Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, to be held in Nova Scotia.

“We are looking forward to a great weekend of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Our quality sports programs instill our athletes with confidence and self-esteem, regardless if they are participating in our grassroots community-based programs or high-level competition like the provincial games” said board chair Mark Dawe.

Athletes from 15 clubs around the province will be competing in metro area over the weekend.

Those clubs include the Baie Verte Peninsula Strikers, Bay St. George, Bonavista North Polar Bears, Burin Peninsula North Bears, C.B.S. Brightstars, Clarenville All Stars, Corner Brook Vikings, Exploits Hurricanes, Gander Wings, Grand Bank-fortune Seahawks, Happy Valley-goose Bay Howling Huskies, Labrador West, Mount Pearl, Placentia Lions, St. John’s and the Trinity-conception Gentle Giants.