Manitoba athletes eye podium at Special Olympics Canada Winter Games
Team Manitoba athletes were sent off in style to this year’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
The Manitoba chapter of the charity hosted a party to bid farewell and good luck to the athletes suiting up to compete for our province at this year’s games in Calgary.
William Middleton is heading west to compete in snowshoeing, marking his debut at the games. He’s excited to see the mountains and go head-to-head in the sport he loves.
“It means the world to compete,” he told reporters at the send-off party.
Middleton is one of 58 local athletes competing in the games from Feb. 27 to March 2 in everything from five-pin bowling to curling to speed skating.
Like the Olympics, the national games are held every two years and alternate between summer and winter.
Melissa Suggitt, marketing manager with Special Olympics Manitoba, says the games give athletes a sense of belonging and purpose.
“They can make friends. They can show off their skills. They have abilities that I think sometimes society does not give them credit for,” Suggitt said.
While she says going to the games is about so much more than winning, Suggitt is confident our Manitoba athletes can bring home some hardware.
“We are very competitive and our athletes are ready to take it on. They are ready to run, to play floor hockey, to ski. They are just ready to bring it. I have seen them practice. I have seen them train, and I think it’s very likely that we’re going to see some medals coming home to Manitoba.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7029443.1725744633!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Police release video of Toronto plaza shooting that killed university student
A university student from Brampton was killed when two shooters fired indiscriminately into a crowded plaza in Toronto last month in what police say was a 'cowardly act.'
BREAKING Manhunt underway for suspect after several people shot in Kentucky near Interstate 75, officials say
Several people have been shot near Interstate 75 in Laurel County, Kentucky, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s office.
The iPhone is getting a 'glow' up. What to expect from Apple's Monday event
Apple excited fans with its vision for its 'Apple Intelligence' artificial intelligence system earlier this year. Now, it's time for the company to prove it really works.
No more porta-potties at B.C. construction sites starting Oct. 1
What some B.C. construction workers describe as the worst aspect of their jobs will be coming to an end next month, the province announced.
'Hopeless and helpless': Regina mother seeks help to treat rare spinal disease
Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.
'Extremely vigorous' wildfire activity in central B.C. prompts crews to back off for safety
The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.
Trump campaigns in Wisconsin just days ahead of debate with Harris
With just days to go before his first — and likely only — debate against U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, former U.S. president Donald Trump leaned into his familiar grievances about everything from his indictments to the border as he campaigned in one of the most deeply Republican swaths of battleground Wisconsin.
They were due to leave for their dream cruise in May. Three months on they’re still stuck at the departure port
It was the years-long cruise that was supposed to set sail, but saw its departure postponed… postponed… and postponed again.