The
North County Aquatic Center of Sebastian hosted the Florida
Special Olympics Aquatic Championship Games. More than
330 swimmers of all ages representing counties throughout
Florida participated in the event, which included 50 meter
and 25 yard races.
This year Indian River County was chosen because of its
central Florida location and for its facilities, which
make it possible to accommodate the special needs of participants
and spectators, as well as to hold awards ceremonies,
and because it boasts an Olympic village.
After several weeks of preparation and hard work necessary
to organize this event, which involved recruiting a great
number of volunteers—more than 400—Department
of Recreation Coordinator of Special Events Mark Seeley
feels that the efforts of the previous months were considerable.
“We have worked a hard to make everything a success.
The event was publicized extensively in various local
media, such as radio and the press, in order to draw people
and, of course, to get volunteers,” says Seeley.
Volunteers were a key element in bringing about this event.
People who are full of enthusiasm and willing to work
with exceptional people, as these athletes are, dedicated
a large part of their time not only on the days of the
event, but also during the hours of orientation they received
weeks before the competition, and, of course, during the
awards ceremony.
It is for this that the Department of Recreation and the
Florida Special Olympics Organization thanked all the
people who worked with them, stating on their website
that without their support they would not have had such
a special event.
Many groups participated in sponsoring this event, principally
Special Olympics Florida, the Indian River Recreation
Department, Sebastian River High School, the Sebastian
Chamber of Commerce, the Treasure Coast Sports Commission,
Special Olympics of Indian River and Publix Supermarkets.
“The benefits of having had this admirable event
in our community are innumerable,” states Fawna
Hattrup, Aquatics Supervisor for the Indian River County
Department of Recreation. “Not only did we have
the opportunity to have exceptional athletes compete in
an installation that boasts such state-of-the-art facilities,
but the event also gave us the opportunity to get to know
ourselves as a community.” says Hattrup.
Thanks to this event many people who had never heard of
this county, Indian River, visited us and came to know
this beautiful area a little better, and thus put us back
on the map for a good cause for which we should all be
proud.
