The Special Olympics celebrates its fortieth edition this Ascension Weekend. 3,400 athletes with mental disabilities will compete this year in La Louvière in more than 20 disciplines ranging from judo to athletics and basketball. Behind these three days of inclusive competition lies several months of preparation. The CHAF, a center for people with disabilities in Farciennes opened its doors to us, the opportunity to look back on the difficulties in preparing their three athletes.
Pour Sergio, Chantal et Sophie, the wait was long. The three participants from CHAF, a residential center for adults with mental disabilities, were waiting for the games to begin. After months of preparation, they intend to win medals in their respective disciplines. David Del Toro, their educator and coach for the games looks back on this preparation. “They’ve been talking to me about it for months, it’s the most anticipated moment of the year. Each week several sessions were organized so that they were ready for the games. We try to do our best to ensure they perform well.”
“Finding this framework for them is a daily battle”
The big difference in this competition is that the efforts are not only focused on the physical aspects of the participants, the mental dimension is the most important to respect the rules of the events. “It’s not always easy for them to fit in, run in a lane or follow a throwing technique. It seems trivial but it’s not a joke, it’s serious. They can quickly be disqualified. Finding this framework for them is an everyday battle, so getting to the end of your race or finishing on the podium is extremely rewarding.”
So when athletes finish an event, they systematically leave with a medal regardless of the ranking. An important gesture for David Del Toro. “It is the symbol of their efforts and they are all very proud to wear their medal. It brings a smile to their families.” Beyond the results, the simple participation in the events is already a form of victory for the participants who overcome their handicap.