Over the past few months, athletes for the Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI) have been putting in the work to prepare for the 2025 national games.
The annual games, in their 36th year, are scheduled for 7-14 June and will feature five sports: swimming, bocce, athletics (track and field), basketball and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
From 5 May, the athletes have been completing their last training block before the games, which consisted of a weekly training schedule of all the featured sports.
The athletes have participated in numerous drills conducted by volunteer coaches to assist them with improving their strength, technical skills and agility while boosting confidence.
They will now showcase these refined skills at the national games.
Hayley Drever, SOCI sports training director, board member and volunteer coach, told the Compass, “Hosting the Special Olympics National Games each year is a powerful way to celebrate the dedication and achievements of our athletes—not just in World Games years, but every year.”
“It provides a meaningful stage for athletes to showcase the skills they’ve honed through hard work and training all season long,” she added.
Louise Carroll, SOCI PR director, told the Compass, “Here in Cayman, we are committed to building a fully inclusive community.”
She said that SOCI welcomes local leaders, businesses and the wider community to come out and support our athletes and “to be part of the Inclusion Revolution”.
According to the Special Olympics organisation, an estimated 200 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability.
As Cayman’s athletes look towards the 2027 summer games in Chile, Carroll said, “We hope to inspire new volunteers and sponsors, and to raise greater awareness of the incredible achievements of our athletes” through these national games.
Up to 60 athletes are expected to compete and spectators are encouraged by SOCI to come out and show their support by wearing Cayman colours.
Schedule of events:
Sport Date Time Location Swimming 7 June 9-10:30am CIS Pool, Camana Bay Bocce 9 June 5:30pm-7:30pm Truman Bodden Sports Complex (TBSC) Athletics (Track and Field) 10 June 5:30pm-7:30pm Truman Bodden Sports Complex (TBSC) Basketball 11 June 5:30pm-6:30pm ARC, Camana Bay Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) 14 June 9:30am-10:30am Dragon Bay
