Hundreds of Special Olympic athletes gathered at Kiwanis Field in Brantford for a track and field meet on Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to this, it’s going to be a great day,” Jimmy VanderHarst Jr. said before the events got underway. “I’m going to be able to spend the day with all of these other kids from across Ontario.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun and for me that’s what it’s all about.”
A member of Team Brantford, VanderHarst was planning to run in the 100-meter dash, compete in shot put and in the long jump. While he was competing his dad, Jim Sr., was in the stands cheering on his son and all of the other athletes.
“It’s great father and his time,” Jim Sr. said. “We have practice together twice a week and I really enjoy it.
“It’s great to see him having so much fun and hanging out with other kids.”
Jim Kruis, the community coordinator for Special Olympics in Brantford, was one of the many parents, coaches and supporters who brought the athletes together for the day. The event was run by 75 volunteers.
“This means the world to these kids,” Kruis said. “This is their social life.
“This is an event that brings them together and hosting this event is a real source of pride for those of us involved in Special Olympics here in Brantford.”
Athletes came from Ottawa, North Bay, North York, Sarnia, Windsor, London and Kitchener-Waterloo among other areas. The event attracted 290 athletes, Kruis said.
“We really love this facility,” Kruis said of Kiwanis Field. “It has everything we need.
“It’s a real asset, a gem for the city.”
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