Big Special Olympics event returning to CK in 2024

By Paul Pedro
June 14, 2023 3:10pm

The Special Olympics Ontario School Championships are returning to Chatham-Kent next year after a 26-year absence.

Organizers held a news conference in Chatham on Wednesday to make the announcement.

Sergeant Jason Herder of Chatham-Kent police, which is hosting the games along with the municipality, told CK News Today approximately 1,200 athletes between the ages of 14 and 21 with intellectual disabilities and their coaches will participate in five sports; basketball, soccer, track and field, floor hockey, and bocce ball.

Herder said he’s very excited, adding it’s going to take a group effort.

“It was always like a pipe dream and now we get to make that dream a reality. I’m beyond thrilled and excited for the challenges and the opportunity that awaits over the next year as we prepare for these games to return to Chatham-Kent,” said Herder.

Herder said the games are a great opportunity for Chatham-Kent to shine bright and for the participating athletes to make lifetime memories.

“This is an opportunity once again for Chatham-Kent to showcase all that it has to offer. We’ve seen previous events, such as the International Plowing Match, bring in people that may not have been to Chatham-Kent and [they] get to see everything we have to offer. There are benefits for our entire municipality,” Herder added.

Special Olympics Ontario Vice President Cody Jansma said the games came back to Chatham-Kent because the municipality was overdue and Chatham-Kent police is among the “very best” when it comes to supporting the world-class Special Olympics Torch Run every year.

Jansma also said Sergeant Herder was a major driving force in bringing the games back to Chatham-Kent.

The games will take place June 10-12, 2024 with most of the athletes housed at The University of Guelph Ridgetown College and St. Clair College in Chatham. The basketball and bocce ball events will take place at Ridgetown College and Ridgetown High School, the soccer and floor hockey will take place at St. Clair College, and the track and field will take place at Chatham-Kent Secondary School. The opening and closing ceremonies will happen at the Bradley Convention Centre in Chatham.

Herder said the athletes will have an opportunity to get their vision and hearing checked.

Herder noted four major fundraising events will be held locally over the next year; the motorcycle charity torch ride on August 12, 2023, the torch run event on September 9, 2023, the Polar Plunge on January 20, 2024, and a rappelling event on June 8, 2024, at a location yet to be determined.

The games already have some sponsors, but more are needed along with volunteers.

Volunteers for the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships in Chatham-Kent can sign up at the Special Olympics Ontario website once it’s up and running in a couple of weeks.

Fundraising efforts are also underway and Sergeant Herder estimated the Chatham-Kent games will cost about $400,000 to host and to ensure the athletes don’t pay a penny for transportation, food and accommodations.

Any person, business, or organization looking to get involved can reach Sergeant Herder at [email protected] or [email protected].