Special Olympians Welcomed as Champions

New Canaan Country School students waved banners and cheered as they once again welcomed buses full of Special Olympians for some competition Wednesday. 

When the buses had emptied, the athletes and volunteers paraded around the circle in front of the main building. After brief opening ceremonies MC-ed by Lou Pear, Director of Unified Sports, and Country School Headmaster Tim Bazemore, it was game on. 

Teams broke off to play in volleyball, soccer and hoops competitions. Partners selected by Unified Sports assisted those who weren't able compete independently. 

No one kept score. It wasn't necessary. All of the Special Olympians were gold medalists. 

Two schools made their first appearance at Country School—Katherine Brennan School of New Haven and Washington School of Waterbury.

New Canaan's South School, Broadview Middle School of Danbury, and Lincoln Bassett of New Haven were back again along with Rowayton, Norwalk,Washington and Waterbury schools. Two schools made their first appearance at Country School—Martinez School of New Haven and Washington School of Waterbury.

"We expect to add more as the program continues to grow in Connecticut," said Ken Bragg, Assistant Director of Unified Sports for the Special Olympics, which coordinated the event along with Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). "We also expect more private schools to host this event."

The Country School was hosting for the fifth consecutive year. 

"The kids smile a lot and so do we-we both get a lot out of this," said Cassie Christopher, a ninth grader, was volunteering for the second year along with classmate Sammi Marcus. 

"When you see that you've helped make the kids' day, you feel good and you know they feel good too, one hundred 100 times more so than you do," Marcus said.