WEYBURN – Special Olympics bowler Robin Stelter of Weyburn is preparing to play at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary, and to help prepare, she competed with her team and as a singles bowler at a Special O event over the weekend in Regina.
Robin and her coach, Jo-Anne Paxman, will be leaving Weyburn on Feb. 26 for Calgary, as Robin is a member of Team Sask in the bowling event.
This will be Robin’s first time to visit Calgary, and her first time to compete at a national level for Special Olympics bowling.
“I’m excited!” said Robin in an interview on Tuesday at the Super Bowl lanes.
She noted there will be some tough competition at the nationals, especially bowlers from Ontario. As she is originally from Ontario, she is hoping she will get to beat the Ontario bowlers at this competition.
Robin tied for the gold medal in singles competition in her division, at the Special Olympics Regina tournament, and Robin’s team is going to be in Calgary from Feb. 26 to March 3.
This team is made up of athletes from Swift Current, Humboldt and Weyburn and they competed as a team at a Special Olympics Regina tournament this past weekend, earning a bronze medal in the B division. Paxman is the coach for the team, and the assistant coach is from Humboldt.
Robin noted her team wants to take in the floor hockey competition at the Games, and Paxman added they are hoping to fit in a visit to the Calgary Tower as well. She said they won’t have time for a lot of extra sightseeing, as they will be there for about five days total, and the Special Olympics organizers have lots of activities planned with the opening and closing ceremonies, and a “gi-normous” dance as part of the closing.
Robin said she’s very much looking forward to dancing with her boyfriend at that event.
At the winter games, their first bowling day is Wednesday, Feb. 28, when they bowl at 1:30 p.m., and on Thursday, Feb. 29 they bowl at 9 a.m.
Paxman said she did not know the time for the bowling match on March 1, until divisioning is completed. It will either be 11:45 a.m. or 5:15 p.m.
Team medals will be right after bowling is completed, and on March 2, the singles medal presentations will be at 10:40 a.m.
This is the livestreaming link for anyone who wishes to watch Robin and her team bowl live: https://calgary2024.specialolympics.ca/the-games or, go to “Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024” website.
Click on Games, find the five-pin bowling square and click on, then on bottom click on livestream.
“I want everyone to watch our team bowling,” said Robin.
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also be livestreamed and can be found on the SOC Winter Games page where you will see all provinces from across Canada March in and listen to speakers.
There will be an estimated 4,000 athletes, coaches, officials and mission staff attending the Games, with the opening and closing ceremonies to be held at the Stampede Park, and registered friends and family members.
Saskatchewan is sending 48 athletes, including 15 bowlers, three alpine skiers, three cross country skiers, five curlers, two figure skaters, 15 floor hockey players, four snowshoers and one speed skater. Along with the athletes, Saskatchewan is sending 28 mission staff and coaches.
