Digicel has reaffirmed its commitment to both regional cricket and Special Olympics by providing funding to support a cricket squad of fifteen players and three coaches, participating in the upcoming 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China from October 2nd to 11th.
This will be the first time that cricket will be played as an international sport at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The regional cricket side will compete against four other teams in the tournament. Tournament hosts China are fielding two teams, with the other two teams coming from established cricketing nations Bangladesh and India.
The players for the team were chosen at the Special Olympics Caribbean’s first regional games in 2003 and the same team have since gone on to represent the region during an international competition in Mumbai, India last year.
According to David Benjamin, Special Olympics Director of Sport, Training & Competitions, ‘We are grateful for Digicel’s support. The team’s participation in the World Summer Games and their consistent performance over the past five years is really an achievement for persons with learning disabilities and throughout the Caribbean’. The team is scheduled to fly into Shanghai on September 27th.
Fifteen Caribbean countries, will field a total of 252 athletes, accompanied by 108 coaches and officials competing in the Special Olympics World 2007 Games 2007, participating in Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cricket, Equestrian, Football (Soccer), Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball. Participating Caribbean nations include Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Curacoa, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Marteen, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.
Since inception, Digicel has been a strong supporter of the Special Olympics across the Caribbean.
According to Errol McGlothan, Marketing Director for Eastern Caribbean. ‘With cricket now being entered in the Special Olympics World Games for the first time, this is a fantastic opportunity for Digicel to bring our association with cricket and Special Olympics together, and to sport the team in China.
‘The Special Olympics athletes’ oath, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt’ is an inspiration to us all. Digicel wishes each of our Caribbean athletes every success and enjoyment at the upcoming games in China and we look forward to welcoming our brave heroes home.’
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