The Special Olympics SVG team is in full preparation mode for the Special Olympics World Games 2023, in Berlin. With Digicel’s support, the 12-member team will be heading to the games which take place from June 17-25.
Across the Caribbean, preparations and send-off activities will be taking place as the teams’ countdown to the upcoming games. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Digicel will be doing bi-weekly post on Social Media before and during the games, a farewell soiree to give the athletes one last hurrah before they depart and a welcome home reception at the airport to celebrate the team on their return. Customers can also support the team with Digicel’s text to donate platform. They merely have to text “SOSVG” to 5151, and XCD $1 will go towards the Special Olympics SVG Team.
Victor Kovacs, CEO said, “since 2003, Digicel SVG has offered support to differently abled communities with the aim of creating a world where everyone is treated equally and equitably and where no one gets left behind. We especially look forward to supporting our local athletes as they prepare for the world games and can’t wait to cheer them on as they represent our country.”
This year’s Special Olympics World Games is expected to have approximately 7,000 athletes and unified partners from approximately 170 countries competing in 24 sporting areas. Digicel SVG’s support of Special Olympics over the years has seen sponsorship of the 2022 Bocce Competition, the purchasing of 100 BBQ meals for staff as part of the Special Olympics SVG (SOSVG) fund raising activity, provided sponsorship of US$10K to facilitate the representation of SVG at USA games in 2022 as well as provide sponsorship of over US$20k for a contingent to represent SVG at the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Summer games.
Denis O’Brien, Founder and Chairman of the Digicel Group, and Chairman of the Special Olympics Ireland’s Council of Patrons said, “The Special Olympics provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to shine, and for people from different countries and cultures, to meet and overcome existing prejudices through the power of sport. Digicel and I will always support that. This year, we are supporting over 250 athletes from 11 Digicel countries at these games and I want to wish them all the best of luck as they compete and represent their home countries.”
With 11 Digicel countries participating in and collectively sending 258 athletes to the world games, the Caribbean will have a strong representation at the event. In addition to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, athletes from Antigua, Aruba, Curacao, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago will also be competing.
Since 1968, when the first Special Olympics International Games were held, the world has transcended the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture, and religion to come together every two years for the Special Olympics World Games. The World Games has become the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement and has grown to be an international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance, and unity.