The Digicel Foundation Sponsors Special Olympics Regional Beach Games

November 7th, 2024    |   Related To: Sandra Welch-Farrell & Company

From the 8th to 10th of November, 14 countries will unite in the spirit of sports, fun, and inclusion for the first-ever Special Olympics Regional Beach Games, hosted in Trinidad and Tobago. The Digicel Foundation is one of the event’s main sponsors, contributing TT$135,000 to the Games.

“The dedication and commitment demonstrated by our special athletes and coaches is nothing short of inspiring,” said Penny Gomez, CEO of the Digicel Foundation. “It’s a great honour for Trinidad and Tobago to have been selected to host the inaugural Special Olympics Regional Beach Games, and this recognition of our very own SOTT is very well-deserved.”

The Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago (SOTT) is the only Special Olympics programme that currently includes Beach Games as an annual multi-sport event and has done so since 2016. This new regional event will bring together 130 athletes, 70 coaches, and delegates from Special Olympics programmes across the Caribbean and North America to compete in a variety of beach sports, including Aquathlon, Beach Bocce, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball and Open Water Swimming, at venues in both Trinidad and Tobago.

Local athletes and coaches have been training hard in preparation for the Games. Special Olympics Aquatics Head Coach Patrick Lee Loy provided insight into their rigorous training regime: “The athletes are training 6 days per week. Their workouts consist of at least 3 pool sessions covering 1200m to 2200m. During the week they have a mixture of Progression Run, Tempo Run and Grass Run that will be from 30 minutes to 40 minutes The athletes also have 2 cross-training days that include pushups, squats, lunges and planks. On Sundays, we combine the swim and the beach run at Maracas Beach. We start at 7:10am. After the swim, the athletes will run for 15 to 30 minutes along the beach. The week before the competition they will cut back on their workouts and have a few rest days.”

The Digicel Foundation is proud to continue its long-term partnership with the SOTT in this significant regional venture.