National Games - A Volunteer’s Account

I have just spent one of the best weeks of my life in Adelaide as a carer for the NSW State Softball team. 

 

 

 

 

I must admit to being a little apprehensive before going to Adelaide about the workload that would be involved in caring for 13 athletes.  

Now I can honestly say that I was so busy having a great time that I barely noticed the work at all.  And anyway, any caring to be done was a pleasure and a privilege!

 

 

 

 

I had such a brilliant week!  These athletes have such brilliant senses of humour.  They can find something to laugh about in any situation.  I spent my week with the most genuine, talented, humerous and friendly group of people!

I highly recommend anyone take the opportunity to volunteer for Special Olympics.  You will not regret it!

Deb Frost
schools and Community Manager
Special Olympics Sydney Upper North Shore
debfrost@bigpond.com.au
0424 403 065

Swimmers Score Medals Galore

SOSUNS sent four swimmers off to Adelaide to represent the Blues.  Lauren, Rebecca, Ashlie and James had trained hard and competed in numerous lead up competitions to ready themselves for the Games.  And it showed, as all four swimmers came away after some really tough competition with at least one medal each.

The excitement at the pool rivalled that shown by the crowd when Thorpy was swimming.  Signs, cheers and Mexican waves pumped up the swimmers as they readied themselves for their races.

Lauren won a silver medal in the relay with team mate Rebecca and also a bronze medal in the backstroke.  As well as the silver relay medal, Rebecca won a bronze for the breast stroke and most satisfying of all she swam a personal best in the freestyle. 

 

 

 

 James came away with two gold medals in his relay and butterfy races as well as a couple of fourth places.  Ashlie won bronze in the 50 metre freestyle relay but really made herself and her supporters proud when she swam personal bests in the 50 metre and 100 metre backstroke races.  Ashlie achieved fourth place in these races and despite a busy program also managed a sixth place in the 50 metre freestyle. 

Along with the athletes, three SOSUNS volunteers also went along to Adelaide as carers and coaches.  Brandon, Aileen and Jack all agreed that attending the Games was one of the best experiences of their lives and can’t wait for the next games in Melbourne.

Ashley Competes Against World Champ in Tennis

The balls flew across the court in a magnificent display of power and precision.

When playing against the reigning world champion there is no choice but to go for the line and that is exactly what Ashley Springett did.

It was a thrill for Ashley to play in the mixed doubles competition against Kelly and her brother Michael and he was very proud to come away with a bronze medal.

Ashley also earned a commendable fourth place in the singles competition.

SOSUNS Soccer Players Battled On!

In the energy sapping heat of an Adelaide autumn which confusingly thought it was still the middle of summer, our SOSUNS soccer players, Tom, Darrin, Scott and James battled through game after game, playing their best and enjoying every minute.

The competition was tough with Queensland in particular fielding very strong sides but our athletes showed great spirit in never giving up.

 

 

Tom was a very excited winner of bronze in his division while Scott, James and Darrin played hard to come away with 6th place in the mixed division.

 

 

The atmosphere at the soccer was brilliant with a grandstand set up for spectators and music playing over the loudspeakers.  in between games spectators were treated to athletes dancing on the pitch and the inspiarational singing of Georgia Horgan, sister of opening and closing ceremony enterainer, Tori.

 

 

 

Marie Simmons, Gavin Backhouse and Paul Phelan accompanied the soccer athletes as coaches and carers.  Despite minimal sleep, all three volunteers enthusiastically agreed that the National Games were a privilege to attend.

NSW Softball Team are the Noisy Favourites of the Games

NSW went down to Tasmania in their opening match by a nailbiting one home run.  The Tasmanian team has dominated NSW in past National Games, but not any more!

Games were also played against Western Australia and Victoria where NSW again showed their improvement from previous years.

As the competition reached it’s final day a large crowd gathered to watch the bronze medal playoff between NSW and Tasmania. 

Word had got around that the NSW team was FUN and as reported in the daily camp newsletter had become the ‘…favourites of the entire National Games…’  Other states and volunteers commented on the sportsmanship, skill, morale and spirit of this fantastic team.  The NSW team may not have been the most athletic, the fastest or the strongest but they were certainly the most talented at providing the crowd with a great entertaining sports match with a brilliant combination of skill and personality on display every time they took to the field.

  

Harry led the team with accurate pitching under pressure and great fielding from close in, Mel took a spectacular catch and made numerous tag outs between first and second, Shaun, Alistair and Jimmy sprinted the outfield time and again intiating some impressive relay throwing and Andrew constantly plucked the ball out of nowhere as catcher.

Once again Tasmania won by one home run, but with the crowd cheering enthusiastically, the NSW Blues felt like the winners as they collected their fourth place winners.

Fran (supercoach), Deb and Elissa attended the Games with the softball team as coaches and carers.  It was a week filled with great experiences, fun and plenty of laughs.  Congratulations to Fran, who so impressed officials with her coaching skills that she has been selected to go to the 2011 World Games in Athens as the Australian head softball coach.

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