Jun 22 – Opening Of The Special Olympics Gibraltar National Games

Written on 22 June 2017.

The Special Olympics Gibraltar National Games 2017 kicked off yesterday evening with the customary opening ceremony in the heat at the Victoria Stadium. Earlier in the day teams from the Isle of Man and Barbate had arrived on the Rock and were welcomed to the stadium alongside the many athletes from Gibraltar.

A large crowd watched as the athletes marched into the stadium with the Special Olympics flag, which was raised prior to the arrival of the Olympic Flame. The Flame had been carried around the Rock all afternoon by runners from the Law Enforcement Torch Run collecting money for, and raising awareness of, Special Olympics. It was handed over to local athletes who carried it around the track before athlete Sally Anne Mauro lit the Olympic cauldron.

In the presence of His Excellency the Governor, alongside other Government Ministers and Opposition Members of Parliament, the Minister for Equality and long time Special Olympics supporter Samantha Sacramento declared the Games open.

Athlete Kydon Mena celebrates his silver medal win

There then followed entertainment in the form of dance routines from three local dance groups and music from local singer Melissa Hale. After that the Games began in earnest with the athletics competition involving athletes from Gibraltar, the Isle of Man and Barbate. The numerous races culminated with the traditional, closely fought relay between the three teams with Gibraltar pulling off an emphatic win with Barbate coming in second to claim the silver and the Isle of Man the bronze.

The games continue this morning at 10.00 am with the five a side football event at pitch number 4 of the Sports Complex before ending with the swimming competition on Friday evening at 6:00 pm at the GASA pool.