DIGICEL yesterday signed on to the first-ever Special Olympics 5km walk, wheel and run race, set for December 4 in the National Park.During a press conference, the company, along with members of the Guyana Special Olympics Committee, briefed the Press on the event which will feature athletes of various classes.
“This is the first project of its kind that we have embarked on and we will use it as a stepping stone to be able to better this project, ” said Wilton Spencer, head of the Special Olympics committee.
He contended, “We want to encourage athletes to compete in the longer distances and by offering this kind of event, we hope that over time, we will have much more athletes competing in the longer distances.”
Assistant Director of Sport, Bryan Smith, added, “The National Sports Commission (NSC) under the Directorship of Christopher Jones has mandated that the body play a greater role in the participation of women and the differently-abled.”
He indicated that Governments must join with private sector entities to make this happen and called for more companies like DIGICEL to come on board.
Meanwhile DIGICEL through Senior Sponsorship & Events Executive Louanna Abrams stated that they are elated to be on board with the committee, mentioning that it is an initiative stretched throughout their 32 markets.
“We have a soft spot in our hearts for our special needs athletes and it is through this soft spot that we have conducted several initiatives at various institutions. We are so excited for December 4 at the National Park,” she added.
Male athletes will compete amputees with crutches, while both genders in the blind (B1 and B2) wheelchair users and persons with intellectual disabilities are being registered.
First-place finishers will be rewarded with trophies and $10 000, second place trophy and $8 000 and third-place trophy and $5 000. There will be participants from Regions 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10.