SUBANG JAYA: Twenty-two Malaysian athletes from five states will be representing the country to compete at the Special Olympics (SO) World Games in June in Berlin.
They will be competing in six sporting events – swimming, bocce, badminton, athletics, table tennis and bowling.
The Special Olympics Malaysia (SOM) team comprises 16 athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) and six unified partners who socialise and play the sports along with the ID athletes.
SOM national director Connie Yee said five athletes from the Selangor team would be participating in the SO World Games in Berlin.
"They comprise four ID athletes and one unified player," she said.
The remaining 17 representing athletes are from Perak, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.
"The athletes can only participate in the SO World games only one time for a sport category.
"This is a rule by which Special Olympics International (SOI) wants to ensure that all special kids as athletes deserve an equal opportunity to go to the world games."
"So let's say one of the athletes is taking part in bowling for the Berlin world games, then in the next World Games, they can no longer compete in that sporting event.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity unless they excel in a different sport and qualify for the Olympics again," she told the New Straits Times today.
Yee said that her expectation was to see the Malaysian contingent bring back some gold medals.
"The important thing is when they participate, they give their personal best. But on the world stage with a huge crowd in the audience, their performance may be affected due to anxiety.
"However, I hope they will be able to overcome their fear and nervousness," she said.
Yee said the motto of SOI is "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".
However, Special Olympics Malaysia Selangor Bowling team head coach, David Foo said that the Selangor bowling team was the strongest as they had a year-round of training.
"Our coaches are all qualified volunteer coaches who have gone through the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress.
"The volunteer coaches will still need to take webinar courses through SOI on how to coach the special kids."
"Teaching the kids was challenging initially since you need to learn about their personalities and their symptoms, if any.
"Coaches need to give them encouragement when they make mistakes," said Foo to the NST.
Both the Special Olympics and Paralympics organisations create platforms for people with disabilities to be able to compete in sports but they differ in their intentions.
While the Paralympics values competition and elite skill levels, the Special Olympics values the power sports have, to allow people to reach their full potential and the importance of social inclusion.
