Email

Print

The Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit on intellectual disabilities begins tomorrow in Boise Idaho. Belize will be represented by Special Olympics gold medallist 13 year old Romelda Logan and a friend of the Special Olympians – St. Catherine’s Academy student Brianny Staine who is also 13. It is news because Romelda and Brianny won’t only be representing Belize. They will represent the entire Caribbean region at the summit. They leave tomorrow and this afternoon we spoke to the delegates and the Director of Special Olympics in Belize Akintade Atkens.

Akintade Atkens, Special Olympics Belize
“This program is a new initiative of Special Olympics International designed to partner young persons with disabilities and those without disabilities to come together and discuss acceptance and inclusion of persons with disabilities into the society under a respectful agreement. It is believed in Special Olympics that in our fight towards eliminating stereotypes and discrimination that we really have to bring that education to young persons and this is actually what we are doing.”

Brianny Staine, Delegate
“I will feel good, excited to go because.”

Keith Swift,
Why did you choose to get involved in this?

Brianny Staine,
“Because it is a better opportunity for me to exposed instead of just staying home on the computer or chatting or watching TV.”

Keith Swift,
How excited are you about going to Idaho?

Romelda Logan, Delegate
“Very excited.”

Keith Swift,
You’re a special athlete, what sport do you play?

Romelda Logan,
“Running. I run a lot because I want to run faster enough because when I go to Panama, I will be the fastest runner for the girls.”

Akintade Atkens,
“It is something that Belize as a whole will have to rally around these young persons for because they will not only now be flying the flag of Belize, they will also be flying the flag of the Caribbean.”

The summit will coincide with the Special Olympics winter games. Two more Belizeans will be in Boise Idaho for the games. They are Ken Vasquez and Dr. Jorge Habet. They will participate in a healthy athlete “train the trainer” seminar.