Track delays shrink Special O Games

Opinion

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This article was published 23/05/2017 (3041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Special Olympics Manitoba estimated around 600 athletes and coaches would be in Brandon for its provincial Summer Games from June 16 to 18. That number has been cut by around a quarter.

The track at UCT Stadium is in the process of being replaced and the rubberized surface won’t be laid down until June, which means it won’t be useable for the multi-sport event. Unfortunately for Brandon, around 150 to 200 track and field athletes, coaches and volunteers from out of town were expected to come in for that part of the Special Olympic Games, and those people won’t be in the city at all.

Special Olympics Manitoba is holding a track and field competition in Winnipeg the following weekend that will decide its provincial champions. No one can blame the organization for the decision and trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

“It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t have a complete Games, but like a lot of things we have to roll with the punches and make sure our athletes have the event that they deserve,” said Jennifer Campbell, the president and CEO of Special Olympics Manitoba. “That’s kind of how we’ve had to approach it.

“Absolutely it means fewer athletes and coaches in Brandon next weekend, there’s no doubt about that, but we did encourage those athletes who did participate in other sports that they could come to Brandon,” she continued. “I don’t know the exact number of how many athletes that would be, but the reality is it certainly has had an impact on the size of our Games for sure.”

The decision to hold a separate track and field event in Winnipeg may benefit provincial athletes in general as some who compete in other sports and track had to choose one or the other but can now do both.

It’s not as good for Brandon as it doesn’t look as good on the community for not being able to put on a full Games. It also means less money rolling into the local businesses and community in general.

The track was in dire need of being replaced. It was 20 years old — its life expectancy was supposed to be eight years — and did not live up to the International Association of Athletics Federations standards. That is needed to host the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships, which the Wheat City will put on in August and again next fall.

The city’s original plan was to tear up the rubber surface and lay down a new one in the fall, but it was discovered the asphalt base was not in good shape and a new foundation had to be put down as well. That work was finished in the fall with the goal to lay down the rubberized surface in the spring, just not in time for the Special Olympic Games or the high school track and field season.

A flood test still has to be done on the asphalt as well as landscaping work in the stadium before the rubberized surface — which also includes the long jump pits — is laid down. The new surface then has to be inspected before lines can be painted on it. The targeted completion date is mid-July, which gives lots of time before the Legion event, but not the Special Olympic Games.

The city was in a tough situation, but did its best to consider all parties before setting its new timeline.

“We had to look at all of those events,” said Perry Roque, the city’s director of community services. “The time factor and when the product could be installed had to be lined up with when that could be done. We tried to start earlier, but the weather wasn’t going to co-operate to get it in any earlier than that timeframe. We knew that in September, so all of those groups had been advised last year.”

Communication was not the issue here. According to Campbell, her organization knew well in advance that there may be issues with getting the track done in time for their event. She said in September they knew it may not be ready and it was confirmed in January when they were in town for a venue tour.

It’s just unfortunate the city didn’t leave extra time in case the asphalt base of the track needed to be replaced. If that had been done initially, this issue wouldn’t have come up.

Without track and field, the Special Olympic Manitoba Games will now feature swimming, bocce, softball, soccer, basketball, fivepin and 10pin bowling, golf and rhythmic gymnastics. The events will take place at Brandon University — athletes will stay at the dorms while some competitions will be at the Healthy Living Centre — as well as the Sportsplex and Thunderbird Bowl.

It’s the first time the provincial competition has come to Brandon since 2005 — the national one was here in 2006 — and Campbell believes this year’s Games will be a success even without track and field.

“In some ways, I can’t believe it’s going to be so soon,” she said. “It’s nice when we can take it outside the city and the people at Brandon University have been fantastic. We have a great crew of volunteers out there. Michelle Magnusson is kind of our chair and doing a great job with the group she has out there. It’s going to be a great weekend and we’re quite looking forward to it.”

“It would have been great to have track out there, but I know our track guys will have a great event here the following weekend and those who can make it out to Brandon I know it will be a special Games. We’re looking forward to it.”

VOLUNTEERS: Campbell is pleased with the number of volunteers that have already registered for the Special Olympics Games, but that they can always use more.

Anyone interesting in helping out with the event can register on their website: specialolympics.mb.ca.