MIRI: Three athletes have done this division proud through their shining performance at the recent Special Olympic Games in Macau.
SMK Luak students Mohd Arif Iqwan Fitri, Danish Zaffry Rosli and Ridley Slyveson Rangga brought home three gold medals, one silver and one bronze from the track and field events at the Macau outing.
The Sunflower Centre chairwoman Liza Chai celebrated the special athletes’ achievement upon their arrival at Miri Airport here.
She lauded the trio’s feat in making Sarawak very proud.
The Miri team were among those in the East Malaysian line-up competing at the Games that ran from Oct 24 to 27.
Overall, the contingent performed excellently in Macau, with Sibu amassing two gold medals and one bronze, Sandakan (two gold, three silver, three bronze), Kuching (two silver, two bronze) and Lahad Datu (two silver, four bronze).
The tally helped the national contingent to place fourth overall at the Games.
The Special Olympics is a global organisation serving more than four million athletes with intellectual disabilities, and working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches annually.
Since its inception in 1968, the number of those involved with the organisation has been growing, but the unmet need to reach for more people with disabilities remains staggering.
The global body provides year-round athletic training and competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
These activities, in turn, provide continuing opportunities to special athletes in developing physical fitness, demonstrating courage, experiencing joy and sharing their gifts, skills and friendship.
Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who had a sister with mental disability that caused her to be permanently incapacitated, the Special Olympic Oath: ‘Let me win; But if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt’ is the mantra to encourage these special children finish their race.