Although the weather in southeast Saskatchewan is rarely co-operative and rain is expected this weekend, that’s not going to stop the Special Olympics Weyburn from hosting a fun day helping kids with intellectual disabilities from trying sports with their first-ever Try It Day since 2019. Tara Meier, youth and health coordinator with Special Olympics, explains the fun happening this weekend.
“On August 9th, from 10:00 AM till 12:00 PM, we are hosting a free Try It Day. It's for our Active Start and Fundamental Program. It's for children with intellectual disabilities from ages 2 to 12 years old and their families to come and take part in some different activities. We'll have stations set up and you can practice your throwing and you're jumping and you're catching. And we'll have some games set up and a few freebies as well.”
The two programs work first with the Active Start, geared towards those aged two to six years old getting them started with activity and more basic movement skills such as walking, running, jumping, and throwing. Then, they would transition into the Fundamental Program which takes those skills and applies it to actual sports, such as soccer, bowling, or softball.
While Special Olympics have been operating in Weyburn for years now, this event has been out of commission for the last six years due to volunteers moving away. However, Weyburn is bringing this event back with hopes to inspire those younger athletes with disabilities the opportunity to try some sports and activities, stay active, and have fun as well. Meier says this Try It Day serves as a great way to build engagement here in the Opportunity City.
“We just had two of your volunteers get their coaching young athletes' certificates, and so now they're able to actually put on these programs within your community. So that being said, the Try It Day is more of a feeler to see the interest of starting maybe a program for our younger athletes in Weyburn.”
The Try It Day was originally planned to take place at the River Park Spray Park; however, due to forecast rain for this upcoming weekend, they have moved it to Dominic Place located at 433 4th St. with the gymnasium doors at the south end of the building.
For more information surrounding the Special Olympics Try It Day this Saturday, reach out to Jo-Ann Paxman at 306-861-1555 or by email at communitymanagersow@gmail.com or if interested in volunteering, reach out to Pamela Mack at 306-861-1543 and by email at volunteersow@gmail.com and visit their Facebook page to see what else is happening with Special Olympics Weyburn.