Members of Alberta’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games team geared up for their upcoming competition in grand style Monday afternoon as honoured guests of a pep rally, hosted by St. Francis Xavier high school.
The school’s gymnasium became a sea of blue jackets during the lunch hour as St. FX students and staff welcomed the athletes with cheers and words of encouragement.
The rally, organized by Special Olympics Alberta in partnership with the school, was intended to give the province’s national athletes a chance to meet some of their fans and get excited about the upcoming Games. Organizers also hoped to spread awareness and understanding of the Special Olympics within the school’s student body.
“Team Alberta is more than the people who are in the blue jackets,” John Byrne, VP Sports for Special Olympics Alberta, explained to the audience. “Team Alberta doesn’t get here without its support. And now you’re part of that. You’re part of our journey.”
Special Olympics Alberta president and CEO Kirk De Fazio challenged the students to take their involvement one step further.
“I know it’s clichĂ©, but youth is the future,” said De Fazio. “We know you’re the future. We want to hear your voice. We’d be very lucky to have some of you join our team for future Games.”
Georgette Reed, 1992 Olympian and head athletics coach for the University of Alberta, addressed the rally and said she hopes the event will at least inspire people to go out and watch the Games.
“This is true sport,” she said. “I mean, I’ve been involved in sport for so many years in so many ways, and when you come and watch Special Olympics, you see athletes going out and doing it because they really just love to compete.”
To kick off the presentation, the St. FX cheer team got the crowd excited with an upbeat dance and acrobatic performance and the entire audience got to their feet for a makeshift flash mob to Nickelback’s We Will Stand Together.
Games representatives treated the athletes to motivational speeches, and Special Olympics alpine skier Larry Green offered words of wisdom to his teammates.
Overall, St. FX principal Dan Donnelly was pleased with the event.
“It was fun. We actually really enjoyed it,” he said. “I talked to the fellow who was dressed up as the [school mascot]. He said to me: ‘Mr. Donnelly, I got a thousand hugs!’
“He really enjoyed it as well.”
While the rally was exciting for the athletes, Special Olympics speed skaters Stephen Rabeeh and Dylan Deucher were eager to compete even before the festivities began.
Deucher, a 17-year-old St. Albert resident currently attending Bellerose Composite high school, is happy the games are in our city, but not because it’s his hometown.
“It’s Jarome’s hometown. You know, Jarome Iginla,” he explained.
Rabeeh, Special Olympics Edmonton’s 2011 male athlete of the year, has been working hard all year to prepare for the games.
“He works out a lot,” said Alberta speed skating head coach Rochelle Chamczuk. “You were working out almost every day, weren’t you?” she asked.
“Perhaps even when we get back to the hotel tonight,” he replied, grinning.
Team Alberta kicks off its 2012 Winter Games run this morning at various St. Albert area venues. Visit stalbert2012.ca for more information.
