Bocce athletes shake hands as a show of good sportsmanship.

Thus far, the 21st Anniversary celebration of Special Olympics Cayman Islands has been a great success with record numbers of family members and other supporters coming out to the competitions.

Here are selected highlights of the week’s competition so far.

With the official opening ceremony for National Games Competition and Week of Awareness at the newly refurbished Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Saturday 6 June, many events have already been covered for the Special Olympics.

On Saturday there was a ceremonial parade of athletes ably supported by members of the agencies of law enforcement, the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, the Girls Brigade and the Cayman Islands Scouts.

After the parade, the “Flame of Hope” torch entered the stadium, carried by SOCI athlete Andrew Hayle, supported by Fire Officer Rodney Rivers and Police Officer Gabe Rabess, both of whom have carried the torch for past World Summer Games.

Minister for Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Honourable Mark Scotland was present to declare the games open and to present special regional and international awards to two SOCI coaches: Penny McDowall as one of the 40 Exemplary Coaches chosen by Special Olympics International from the 250,000 coaches worldwide and Susan Whittaker, Caribbean Coach of the Year 2008 chosen by the board of Special Olympics Caribbean (SOC) from coaches in the 23 member countries that make up SOC.

Athletics competition consisted of track events - runs and walks and field events - the softball throw.

Highlights included the Division 1 Males 50m walk where Mackie Smith won Gold in a time of 20.14 seconds, just beating Hamish Woods who gained Silver with a time of 21.28s. Oral Powery rounded out the medal standings with a time of 30.53s for bronze. Sean Gray and Covey Ebanks placed 4th and 5th respectively.

For the Women’s Division 1, 100m walk the gold went to Elena Ow with a time 45.63s, Tessa Terry silver at 48.56 and Mary Hurlston for bronze with 51.18s. fourth place went to Anna Jackson with a time of 52.89 and 5th went to Chalice Smith with a time of 56.64s.

Solomon Webster won Gold with a throw of 55m in the Division 3 Men’s Softball Throw, others who participated included:

• Leon Lambert - Silver with a throw of 31.45m
• Devon Ebanks - Bronze throwing 30.38m
• Jamar Timothy - 4th throwing 24.43m
• Tristan Ramjeet 5th throwing 16.02m

On Sunday 7 June athletes, family members, board members and friends were warmly welcomed to the Frank Sound Church of God to take part in their Worship Service. SOCI Athlete Andrew Smilley read the lesson and SOCI Chairman Eric Crutchley had a few words for the congregation on the importance of family support. After a rousing sermon by Pastor Ellen Peguero, the church treated the athletes and their families to lunch.

On Monday the Bocce Competition took place at the new courts at the TBSC. While the athletes have been training there for some weeks, this is the first official competition to be held at the new site, which boasts two courts of Special Olympics regulation size and two larger courts which fit international specifications.

• Competitions were:
  • Singles Finals - Chalice Smith vs Sean Gray. Sean gained gold with 10 points over Chalice who won silver.
  • Mark Ebanks and Solomon Webster in singles finals competition. Solomon gained Gold with a 15 point victory over Mark who took home silver in that event.
  • Doubles – Mitchell “Mackie” Smith and John White fought hard but took home silver, losing to Covey Ebanks and Oral Powery who took gold medals in this event.

On Tuesday 9 June, Aquatics Competition was held at the Lions Pool with 15 events plus the demonstration medley by SOCI athlete Andrew Smilley. Competition was fierce and the number of supporters present for the competition had been the highest so far that week.

Solomon Webster won a Gold medal in the 50 m men’s Free style, Andrew Hayle took silver and Hamish Wood bronze. Hamlet Soto was placed 4th - Jamar Timothy took position five and Roland Ebanks position six. Below are the highlights of other results.

• Women’s 25 m free style
• Finita Ebanks - Gold
• Chloe Andrade - Silver
• Vanessa Williams – Bronze
• Elena Ow – 4th
• Men’s 25m (Young Athletes)
• Marcus Jackson – Gold
• Jordan Mclean – Silver
• Albert Bodden - Bronze
• Arly Swaby – 4th
• John White – 5th
• Tristan Ramjeet – 6th
• Women’s 10m Unassisted Walk
• Rachel Ebanks – Gold
• Elena Ow – Silver
• Tessa Terry - Bronze
• Anna Jackson – 4th