November 1, 2005
Special Olympics Bonaire recently held a Halloween Haunted Help, with the assistance of Habitat Bonaire. Be sure to check out the ghoulish photos available at:
www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/announcements.html#haunted
Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten, January 13, 2005
The mission of Special Olympics in general is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental retardation, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families and other Special Olympics athletes, as well as the community.
In
the 1st picture from left to right:"the
new board of Special Olympics Sint.Maarten": Julia Boasman, Loyola Symonson, First Lady Angela Richards,
Delno Tromp (National Director SO Bonaire), Eileen Healy, Roosje
van der Hoek (PR Officer SO Bonaire and Sales Agent BonairExel) and
Jacky Heyman-Berkel.
In
the 2nd picture
from left to right "Some athlethes of Special Olympics Sint.Maarten": Xiomara Wilson,
Linda Richardson, Delno
Tromp (National Director SO Bonaire), Leo Violinus, Beatrix
Arrindell, Roosje
van der Hoek (PR Officer SO Bonaire and Sales Agent BonairExel),
First Lady Angela Richards and Julia Boasman.
On August 24th, 2004, Special Olympics Bonaire's own Board Member and Public Relations Officer, Ferina "Roosje" Goeloe, married Jan Pieter van der Hoek. The entire Special Olympics Bonaire wishes them all the best for a wonderful life together.
BONAIRE’S SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES IN JAMAICA
Bonaire’s
Special Olympic Team of 10 athletes returned triumphant last week with
eight Gold Medals and seven Silver Medals in the sports of Bocce, Swimming
and Running. Not only should we be very proud of the athletes, but
of the great coaching staff as well, who has spent untold numbers of
hours training the athletes and preparing them for this momentous event. The
Bonaire Reporter traveled with the team to record the
events.
The Inaugural Special Olympics Caribbean Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 8 to 11 with 500 athletes representing 15 countries from around the Caribbean. As well there were 200 coaches and officials, 200 family members and friends and more than 200 volunteers – a lot for an island to deal with.
Our athletes were full of excitement and anticipation as they prepared to board the Air Jamaica flight on Wednesday, July 7, but since most of them have competed in other overseas events they behaved like seasoned travelers but with lots of humor and good nature. Also aboard were their old friends, the team from Aruba.
At takeoff, Gold Medal swimmer Lucille Soliana called out, “Bye Bye Bonaire,” bringing a smile to everyone’s lips. On landing in Montego Bay, Jamaica, some of them burst into song, singing the Bonaire National Anthem! Even during an unexpected five-hour wait in Montego Bay our team took a good sport attitude and didn’t complain.
The
next day’s opening ceremonies were emotionally
stirring as all the athletes and their delegations marched in with
the flags of their countries to the spirited accompaniment of drums
and a marching band.
The following day the games began, a little later than planned due to a few glitches, like the field event coaches asking that the “staging” tent for the athletes be moved close to the bleachers. The authorities replied, “You can do it yourselves.” So all the coaches, looking like determined ants, walked the tent clear across the field. Other coaches with hearing impaired athletes asked officials if there couldn’t be a signal other than the gun to start the races. It was agreed to use a flag.
Later that morning at the stadium the very first gold medal of the Special Olympics was awarded to runner, 52-year-old Antonio de Palm (in Ireland known as “The Barefoot Flash,” but this time he wore shoes).
Then there was a surprise visit to the stadium by the Governor General of Jamaica, Howard Cooke, who was there in time to present a Silver Medal to runner Siegmar (Ziggy) Celestin. During the Governor’s visit to the aquatics area he took time to pose with swimmers Lucille Soliana and Johnny Hellmund.
Governor Cooke, addressing the swimming athletes, said, “A prescription for peace and harmony is togetherness; learn about each other; meet each other.” And that’s exactly what was happening as our athletes interacted with those from different islands; having fun, cheering each other on, congratulating each other – everyone in good spirits.
In the Bocce area our experienced team had close matches,
especially when Denny Reina battled mightily and tied, game after
game, with a young athlete from Montserrat. By an edge the Montserrat
athlete won but the two shook hands and posed for photos with their
arms around each other.
Disappointingly, during the last two days the gold and silver medals ran out, so the top winners got ribbons instead.
Sunday’s closing ceremony at the University of the West Indies where all the athletes and their delegations were housed. Everyone was relaxed, having completed four days of great games. The reggae music soared and dancing began. Local food was served and long lines waited patiently for a taste of Jamaica.
The team had to wait until Wednesday to return to Bonaire on Air Jamaica, so Head of the Delegation, Delno Tromp arranged free tours to the Bob Marley Museum and to Ocho Rios.
A
tired but happy team boarded the flight on Wednesday, calling out, “Bye Bye, Jamaica” as we rose into the air. 
Unlike the other islands where the local governments subsidize their Special Olympic teams, the Bonaire team has to raise all the money itself. Thanks to all the very generous sponsors who made it possible for the team to make a showing in Jamaica: UTS (United Telecommunication Service), BonairExel, Air Jamaica, Croccantino Restaurant, Bonaire Gift Shop, Ennia Insurance, Captain Don’s Habitat and individuals Anna and Art Kleimer and Sharon and Scott Barlass.
Islands represented at the Special Olympics in Jamaica: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, Suriname, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago.
Written by Laura DeSalvo, and reprinted with permission from The Bonaire Reporter
And special thanks to UTS (United Telecommunication Systems) for providing shirts.
Last year, Special Olympics Bonaire won Silver Medals in the Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland, and, at the moment, we have a new group of students that soon will bring the Gold to Bonaire.
Pictured: Robby Domacasse/Coach of Tennis of SOB with his students (Assistant Coach Irene Melief not pictured).
Special Olympics Bonaire says, "YES!", as we add another sport to our list of training.
Training began on May 22, 2004, due to the the generous contribution of Mr. Nick Zandman, owner of Danilo's Bowling.
The athletes are being coached by the Bowling Team of Maduro & Curiel's Bank--Elske Lucia, Juni Agusta, Gabielle Nahr, and Gino Lepelaars.
Also thanks go to Roosje Goeloe, of BonairExel, who, as Public Relations Officer of the Special Olympics Bonaire, is a major part of this new effort. She makes sure that all athletes will be picked up and dropped back safely at home.
We must say that we are already seeing some potential champions in the group, and we are looking forward to the near future when we compete internationally abroad.
Special Olympics Polo Shirts are now available for sale for US $30.00 each. They can be purchased at Croccantino Restaurant.
For
more information, email info@specialolympicsbonaire.org |
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