Para-athletes features at Kingston meet prior to Olympics

By Jen Roberts

Athlete: Nik Tolgyesi, 14, a member of the Kingston Y Penguins poses at the Kingston YMCA on Wednesday, Jan. 20. He has limited use of one side of his body due to a stroke at the age of eight. Photo by Jen RobertsResidents of Ontario won’t have to wait until February to see some top-notch athletics as the 2010 ParaSport Ontario Winter Olympic Games take place in Kingston this weekend.
Over 230 of the province’s top physically disabled athletes are taking part in six different winter sports. Originally ParaNordic skiing was also slated to take place at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area, but because of mild temperatures and a lack of snow, it has been cancelled.
“This is only the third time that there have been winter sports competition for athletes with a disability,” says Games Organizing Committee Chairman John Munro. “It’s very exciting for us to have the opportunity to bring the athletes in here.”
“The goal for ParaSport Ontario is bringing awareness to what’s possible for these athletes and showing them that there are sports out there that are adapted for them to participate in,” says Munro. “We want to engage people with disabilities, particularly younger people, in sports.”
Disabled sports have been growing in popularity in recent years, and Belleville has been quick to jump on the bandwagon.
“We’ve just started a Y Knot Abilities Program at the YMCA in Belleville and we’re hoping to bring young people into that program and give them the opportunity to participate in the sport of swimming,” says Vicki Keith, wife of Munro and coach of the Kingston Y Penguins.
“There might be some future athletes there who will be competing in future ParaSport Olympics,” says Munro.
“Right now, we’re focusing on swimming in Belleville. We’ve got a very small group, currently there are only two young people in it, so we need to let people know it’s there,” says Keith. “One of the things the ParaSports Olympics will do is raise awareness of all disabled sports, not just in Belleville and Kingston, but all over the province.”
Other sports that could follow include ParaAlpine and ParaNordic skiing, sledge hockey, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair curling.
“The opportunities these sports give athletes is so powerful,” says Munro. ”These athletes go from having low self-esteem and self-confidence to fully confident, excited and physically fit. Seeing this is my primary reason for getting involved [with this organization].”
The 2010 ParaSport Winter Games take place from January 22 to January 24 in several venues throughout Kingston including the Invista Centre, Kingston Military Community Sports Centre and The Royal Kingston Curling Club.
The ParaAlpine event will be held at the Calabogie Peaks Resort, located outside Renfrew, ON.
Admission is free to all venues.