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ISSUE no 16 SEPT 2015
A Chat with Candi
Plenty Sport (PS) recently connected with Candilla Berment –Harper (CB)
have they done?
the Board Chair of Special Olympics of Trinidad and Tobago for the
(CB): All our athletes have
past few years,. She took time to respond briefly to the following questions
excelled thus far; as they
on the history of Special Olympics in T&T in particular.
are encouraged to do their
(PS): Who spearheads Special Olympics in Trinidad and Tobago and
best and that is all we ask of
how long has it been recognized as an international sport?
them. E.g. in the recently
(CB) :Special Olympics is not “a” sport, but a worldwide movement for per-
concluded World Games
sons with Intellectual Disabilities, recognized by the International Olympic
July – August in LA the ath-
Committee (IOC). Special Olympics has been in existence in Trinidad &
letes returned home with
Tobago for 32 years. A Board of Directors governs SOTT; I have been the
(15) Gold, (9) Silver, (24)
Board Chair since 2012. The current list of executives include Ferdinand
Bronze medals and (15) 4th,
Bibby – National Director, Clayton Williams – Sport Director, Luna Wright –
(3) 5th, (7) 6th, (2) 7th, & (1)
Secretary, Trixie Guy – Actg. Treasurer
8th place ribbons
(PS): What have been the key achievements of the sport to date in T&T?
(PS): What in particular can
(CB): Special Olympics athletes have been competing in National, Region-
you share on the SOTT national teams/clubs?
al and International Games over the years and have excelled in all sporting
(CB): The national teams all come from the Special Schools and Institutions in
disciplines to date, bringing home medals and ribbons
Trinidad & Tobago and train throughout the year by trained Coaches in eleven
(PS): Who are the individuals who have excelled thus far and in brief what
(11) sporting disciplines.
(PS): Where does SOTT sports occur in Trinidad and Tobago?
(CB): The various sports are played throughout Trinidad & Tobago. However
every year we hold National Games Competition, which is a multi-sport, two-day
event, and is patterned on World Games. We also hold single sport competitions
in Cricket and Floor Hockey in June and November respectively.
(PS): What specifically would you like the reading audience know about SO in T
&T?
(CB): That Special Olympics is here to stay and we encourage everyone to support the athletes in whatever way they can. We have an office at 8A Delhi Street,
St. James, Tel: 289-2475 or through Ferdinand Bibby – 685-5689 or myself.
Currently many Volunteers are needed for coaching, administration, medical,
transportation, registration and recording, mentoring, fundraising, marketing and
other areas. (Pictures by Don’t Sleep TT courtesy Special Olympics TT)