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Special Olympians bring home silver, gold from Greece |
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Alyssa Neil of Holyoke competed in several track and field events with Team USA, winning a sliver medal on the relay team and bronze medals in the 400 meter run and shot put. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics
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MARLBOROUGH — Alyssa Neil, a Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) athlete, returned home to Holyoke on July 6th after attending the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Neil and five additional SOMA team members were welcomed at Logan Airport by proud family and friends after competing on a world stage with 7,500 elite athletes from 185 different nations. Neil competed in track and field and won a silver medal on the winning relay with Team USA members along with two bronze medals in the 400 meter run and one in shot put. She was thrilled to showcase her talents and forge new friendships with other top competitors from around the globe.
Janelle Everard competed in bocce and won a gold medal with the USA bocce team over Team Germany, 9-4. She considers the chance to represent Team USA in Greece to be one of the greatest accomplishments of her life. She has worked diligently for over ten years for a chance to compete with others from around the world. Everard is described as well-rounded, hardworking and multitalented. Although she is accomplished in bocce, she also competes and has won numerous medals in bowling, track, volleyball and soccer. Everard has developed confidence in all aspects of her life through success in sports. SOMA has helped her make new friends and become independent enough to have her own car and apartment.
Neil has definitely experienced many life changes since becoming a SOMA athlete. The 19-year-old and her family fully immersed themselves in the organization eight years ago. Neil’s family is incredibly supportive and is often seen volunteering and participating in SOMA events. Since 2008, Neil has been a member of the International Youth Activation Committee and the Massachusetts Youth Activation Committee; where she and others work to promote inclusion and opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. Neil states that SOMA has given her confidence, friends, and opportunities to be part of something bigger than herself.
“SOMA is proud of Neil and Evrard and their accomplishments at the 2011 World Games,” said Special Olympics Massachusetts’ President and CEO, Robert Johnson. “Athletes like Neil and Evrard promote inclusion for those with intellectual disabilities by demonstrating to the world what they are capable of achieving on and off the field.”
The Special Olympics World Games 2011 was the apex of a long lasting movement founded in 1968 by, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who realized her dream of global inclusion; to create a world that is not dominated by those who are excluded but by those who are included. They were significant as they took place without the presence of their founder, only two years after her death. For more information visit the World Games Web site at: http://www.athens2011.org/en/index.asp. For more information on Neil and her SOMA teammates, visit: http://www.specialolympicsma.org/2011_world_games.php.
Special Olympics Mass-achusetts provides year-round sports training, athletic competition, and other health-related programming for 12,168 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics Athletes and the community. More information is available at www.specialolympicsma.org.
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