SAVOUR Manitoba

10 SAVOUR MANITOBA | FALL 24 Special Olympics Manitoba cont. Suggitt is excited to offer another festival this year (typically, there is only one, but unforeseen circumstances moved the 2023 festival to January). e last day of the September festival aligns with the last day of summer on September 21st. Participants will literally enjoy "the last sip of summer", Suggitt notes. Enjoying the wines of Europe will be a great way to support fellow Manitobans, improve wine knowledge and enjoy the last day of the season. e festival will naturally be a "safe, inclusive space where all are welcome," she says. It's especially important to note this because the core goal of Special Olympics Manitoba is inclusion. Many of the athletes themselves are participating in the festival. Some will volunteer. Marty ome, athlete and member of the Winnipeg Regional Athlete Leadership Council – will also co-emcee alongside HOT 100.5's Mark and Dilly at the gala event — as he did in January. When asked about the organization, ome says "I owe my life to Special Olympics and I've had so many great moments that I can cherish throughout my lifetime, and I'm more than happy to serve and give back to Special Olympics as a member of the Winnipeg regional athlete leadership council after everything that they've done for me". He's equally thrilled about the festival. "Between meeting people, everything that is being offered, and being on stage as a co-emcee to show how much fun I have and show what the wine fest means to me is something really special to me," ome says. ome is not the only athlete to admire the opportunities provided by the Special Olympics organization. Alec Baldwin says, "I'm so excited to be invited to Team Canada, I can't wait to go to Italy!". At 14, the youngest athlete Cory Beardy noted "I'm really glad that I got picked for being fast enough [on my cross-country skis]. I'm really happy!" Brita Hall, who was the first ever Special Olympics athlete to be inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame earlier this summer says, "I'm happy to have another chance to compete at the World Games." Gratitude and excitement to compete on the world stage are feelings shared by each of the winning athletes. No doubt they appreciate the time and effort of the volunteers who help them to compete. Coaches are often forgotten. Few athletes could excel without solid coaching. Suggitt notes that coach Ron Struch, an octogenarian, is also the assistant coach for Team Canada's Alpine Ski team. It's impressive. The athletes will be participating in snowshoeing, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.

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