logo
Athletes descend upon the region for Summer Games

Athletes descend upon the region for Summer Games

Yahoo17-07-2025
Athletes, coaches, family members, friends and supporters, packed the stands at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre for the opening ceremonies of the 2025 Ontario Special Olympics Summer Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
The Games, which were hosted by Brantford Police Services, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Six Nations Police Services, took place over three days.The long-awaited event welcomed nearly 1,000 athletes from across Ontario to the Telephone City and the surrounding area to compete in five different sports including: athletics, soccer, bocce, golf and softball.
Co-master of ceremonies and TSN colleagues, Lindsay Hamilton and Gino Reda, kicked off the opening ceremonies by introducing the joint ceremonial guard units, featuring officers from the three host police services, the Knights of Columbus escorts, the Lansdowne Children's Centre cheer team and the Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers to the event.The athletes, who were escorted by various police representatives from all over the province, were then welcomed into the venue by district. The energy was palpable as supporters in the stands cheered on their friends and family members, showing their support with handmade signs and colourful t-shirts.
Once everyone was seated, clients of Crossing All Bridge joined Laura Lee Brown, Huron County's OPP Detachment Commander, for the singing of O'Canada.The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, was then welcomed to the stage to address those in attendance.
'For me, sports have always been a great way to boost health and well-being, and bond with others in the community; some of our most lasting friendships are made during friendly competition,' she said. '…I hope the next few days will be a time to celebrate, not only goals and personal best times, but also teamwork and the very special feeling we get when we spend time doing something we love and when we meet others who share our dedication and excitement.'
'To the coaches and family members, your unwavering support has helped these athletes achieve incredible things. Your belief in them has made all the difference and you have every reason to be proud,' Dumont continued. 'To the athletes, please know that whether this is your first time at these games, or your tenth, regardless of the final scores, you all deserve our heartfelt congratulations for what you have achieved. You should be very proud of how your determination and tireless training have brought you here today.'The rest of the program included various speeches from Sherri-Lynn Hill, the 59th elected Chief for Six Nations of the Grand River; Leroy Hill, Secretary for the Council of Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs; Glen Gretzky, Executive Director of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation; Brantford Chief of Police Jason Saunders, Six Nations Chief of Police Darren Montour and Andrea Quenneville, Superintendent for the OPP West Region; Aly Champsi, Chair of the Board for Special Olympics Ontario; Zac Dalpe, former NHL player and the Honourary Games Ambassador; and Hamilton Chief of Police Frank Bergen, Chair of the Ontario association of Chief of Police Torch Run Committee.
'It's such an honour to be here with you today to welcome all of our coaches, all of our families, all of our friends and, most importantly, all of our athletes,' said Chief Saunders. 'It's an honour and a joy to welcome you all for the 2025 Special Olympic Summer Games. Today, we are not just opening a sporting event, we are celebrating courage, determination and the incredible power of human spirit.'As well, there were performances from Impact Cheer Athletics and the band AudioworX, and a showing of clips from the last leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run as the Flame of Hope made its way through Six Nations, the County of Brant, and Brantford, before it was carried into the venue by Detective Cst. Christine McCallum, Games Manager for the Special Olympics Ontario Summer Games.The torch was then passed along from Glen Gretzky and athlete Dianne Richardson to Chief Montour and Seneca Henhawk (the games' Athlete Ambassador), to Superintendent Quennville and athlete Jennifer Sywyk, and finally Chief Saunders and athlete Ben Kruis, who officially lit the Special Olympics cauldron together.
Several days later, on Saturday, July 12, after the athletes fought through the sweltering heat to complete their games, participants and their coaches, friends and family members, all gathered together once more for the closing ceremonies.To kick off the final event, David McKee, Brantford's Town Crier, stood for one of his infamous declarations. His presence garnered a warm welcome as the hundreds of athletes began cheering and clapping at the sound of his bell.
Dave Carroll, the evening's master of ceremonies, then welcomed everyone to the event before leading them in the singing of O'Canada.Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford, then approached the podium to say a few words.
'To our amazing athletes, you are the heart of these games. You've shown us what determination, what courage and sportsmanship truly looks like. Whether you stood on the podium or whether you were cheering from the sidelines, you inspired this city with your strength and your spirit,' he said. 'You reminded us that winning is not just about medals, it's about effort, unity, perseverance. …As you say farewell to the 2025 Special Olympics, I hope you take with you warm memories of our city, the friendships you've made and the victories you've earned on and off the field. I hope you'll come back to visit us, not just as athletes, but now as honorary members of the Brantford family.'The two Chiefs of police, the OPP Superintendent and the Mayor also thanked everyone who made the games possible.
'This event could not have happened without an army of very dedicated people; to the Special Olympics team, the local organizing committee and every volunteer, thank you, you've helped create something truly special in our city,' said Davis. 'To the people of Brantford, thank you for showing the province and the country what Brantford is all about!'Detective Cst. McCallum also had the chance to speak to the crowd. She thanked everyone who made the event possible including volunteers, sponsors, donors, community leaders and fellow police officers, noting that this was the first time that three police services have ever come together to host the games.
She also told the athletes that what ultimately made the games so wonderful, was them.
'Too often, the sacrifices you make, the discipline you show, and the quiet perseverance you live every day goes unnoticed… but not here!' said McCallum. 'Over the past few days, the games shone brightly because of you. You were the reason we gathered to celebrate your achievements, to honour your journeys and to be inspired by the incredible spirit you brought to every event. You reminded us all that greatness isn't measured in medals, it's measured in the heart.'Following the speeches, and a live performance from Jeffrey Harding and Krista Sipos, the 2025 Ontario Special Olympics Summer Games flag was officially lowered, and the cauldron's flame was extinguished.
Those who competed in this year's provincial games and qualified, will now have the chance to compete with Team Ontario during the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which will take place in Medicine Hat, Alberta, from August 11-15, 2026.Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak
Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak

Toronto Blue Jays (60-42, first in the AL East) vs. Detroit Tigers (60-43, first in the AL Central) Detroit; Thursday, 6:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (5-2, 2.80 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 65 strikeouts); Tigers: Reese Olson (4-3, 2.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -131, Blue Jays +109; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers host the Toronto Blue Jays looking to stop a four-game home slide. Detroit has a 60-43 record overall and a 32-18 record in home games. The Tigers are 36-11 in games when they did not give up a home run. Toronto has a 23-25 record on the road and a 60-42 record overall. The Blue Jays have the best team batting average in the AL at .260. Thursday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Gleyber Torres has nine home runs, 54 walks and 45 RBIs while hitting .283 for the Tigers. Spencer Torkelson is 9 for 35 with three doubles and two RBIs over the past 10 games. George Springer ranks third on the Blue Jays with 35 extra base hits (17 doubles, a triple and 17 home runs). Addison Barger is 11 for 36 with a double, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 1-9, .209 batting average, 6.67 ERA, outscored by 40 runs Blue Jays: 6-4, .274 batting average, 3.52 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs INJURIES: Tigers: Sean Guenther: 60-Day IL (hip), Sawyer Gipson-Long: 15-Day IL (neck), Kerry Carpenter: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat) Blue Jays: Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15-Day IL (middle finger), Bowden Francis: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

3 Arsenal fixtures moved
3 Arsenal fixtures moved

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

3 Arsenal fixtures moved

All three of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures in September have been rescheduled for live broadcast in the UK. Photo byThe home match against Nottingham Forest will stay on Saturday 13 September but now kicks off at 12.30pm to accommodate TNT Sports coverage. Eight days later, the visit of Manchester City to the Emirates has been moved to Sunday 21 September, with a 4.30pm start after Sky Sports selected the fixture for their main broadcast slot. The month concludes with a trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle United, another 4.30pm Sunday kick-off, this time on 28 September, also chosen by Sky Sports. The Premier League's 'standard' broadcast selections are now complete up to and including 29 September, but the league has again reminded clubs and supporters that all fixtures remain subject to change if circumstances demand.

Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak
Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak

Associated Press

time27 minutes ago

  • Associated Press

Tigers host the Blue Jays on home losing streak

Toronto Blue Jays (60-42, first in the AL East) vs. Detroit Tigers (60-43, first in the AL Central) Detroit; Thursday, 6:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (5-2, 2.80 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 65 strikeouts); Tigers: Reese Olson (4-3, 2.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -131, Blue Jays +109; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers host the Toronto Blue Jays looking to stop a four-game home slide. Detroit has a 60-43 record overall and a 32-18 record in home games. The Tigers are 36-11 in games when they did not give up a home run. Toronto has a 23-25 record on the road and a 60-42 record overall. The Blue Jays have the best team batting average in the AL at .260. Thursday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Gleyber Torres has nine home runs, 54 walks and 45 RBIs while hitting .283 for the Tigers. Spencer Torkelson is 9 for 35 with three doubles and two RBIs over the past 10 games. George Springer ranks third on the Blue Jays with 35 extra base hits (17 doubles, a triple and 17 home runs). Addison Barger is 11 for 36 with a double, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 1-9, .209 batting average, 6.67 ERA, outscored by 40 runs Blue Jays: 6-4, .274 batting average, 3.52 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs INJURIES: Tigers: Sean Guenther: 60-Day IL (hip), Sawyer Gipson-Long: 15-Day IL (neck), Kerry Carpenter: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat) Blue Jays: Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15-Day IL (middle finger), Bowden Francis: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store