Samoa gears up for Abu Dhabi

By Ivamere Nataro 24 July 2018, 12:00AM

Special Olympics Samoa (S.O.S.) has started its preparations for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Abu Dhabi in March. 

S.O.S. Board Chairman, Leta’a Maiava Devoe told the Samoa Observer their 20-member squad has started their training.  

“We already got our team and we don’t announce our team yet, but we already have our athletes for Abu Dhabi and they are now in their preparations and camping and just training for the event,” Leta’a said. 

He said of the 20 athletes, 10 are males and the rest are females and they will be participating in athletics, powerlifting, bocce and soccer. 

“So it’s unified. It’s a mixture of those with disabilities and those without,” Leta’a said.  

“The athletes are aged 16 above. I am not too sure, who is the youngest but the team is in preparations stage and the age limit is 16 upwards.

“In preparations for our athletes’ trip to Abu Dhabi, we are hoping to hold a corporate dinner in December just to fundraise for the event.” 

Leta’a said Digicel will be their main sponsor for the road to Abu Dhabi and they’ve also asked the Government for assistance. 

“We want to ask the country for their support because the last time we went to the World Games in Los Angeles, we came back with eight golds, eight silver and nine bronze. 

“So we hope to equal that or get a better result. It’s not going to be easy because the Games I believe will be bigger than Los Angeles but we’ll try our best.” 

By Ivamere Nataro 24 July 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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