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For Special Olympians — the goal is participation

Whether or not you are a fan of sports, the Special Olympics is one of the modern era’s most inspiring events, and in American Samoa a group of dedicated parents, athletes and other community volunteers are moving forward with their plans to ensure that our children with disabilities will be represented in the next world Special Olympics, to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

It’s a long road to Abu Dhabi, and there is much to do- but the good news is that many community organizations are involved in helping these young athletes realize their dreams, which their disabilities will not deter.

The Parents of Children with Special Needs (PCSN) Network, along with the organizers of the Special Olympics of American Samoa are planning an open water swim meet for children with disabilities. If you have, or know of one of these children, please mark your calendars for this Saturday January 21, at Utulei Beach.  It’s an early morning event, beginning at 7:30 am.

The event will take place along with an American Samoa Triathlon, which will start at 7 am.

Organizers anticipate starting the actual water races around 8:30 am, with races to accommodate every swimmer, whether independent or assisted— so that every child of any age and any disability may participate.

Volunteers are needed for help with this event, and the call has gone out. Volunteers please contact Sandy Scanlan or call coach Zero.  Their phone numbers are listed below.

Samoa News spoke to Sandy Scanlan, the mother of a special needs child, and a driving force behind this effort. She approaches this challenge with great dignity and enormous energy.

She said, “The really exciting part is that this event will be one of many leading up to our kids going to the 2019 Special Olympics in swimming!”

Tomorrow will be the first of many Open Water Swim Competitions, and will include members of the Special Olympics of American Samoa (SOAS) along with the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) as they partner with the PCSN Network.

The event will run concurrent with the American Samoa Triathlon, which will begin after the swim portion of the triathlon.

In the past, the PCSN Network conducted an adapted triathlon course, but this year they will conduct the swim meet alongside — and with the help of— SOAS and ASAA, the first of several leading to the 2019 Special Olympics games.

For the past year, the PCSN Network along with the ASAA has conducted and adapted swim classes weekly for children (any age) with special needs. On January 21, these two agencies along with the SOAS will host the first ever-open water swim meet.

The goal is participation, and races will be adapted to ensure that every child can compete whether they swim on their own, or with a swim buddy, using a kick board, or being assisted by volunteers or parents.  Many have been diligently practicing for this event, and on Thursdays and Saturdays they could be seen at Utulei Beach with their coaches and parents.

Now PCSN is looking for volunteers to help the kids this Saturday.  Please see contact information below.

Contact information:  Sandra 731-3959 (PCSN) Coach Zero 731-3013 (ASAA), or Tafa 699-7061 (SOAS)

PCSN Network is a parent-to-parent support group for parents of children with disabilities.

ASAA is devoted to ocean and water safety and conducts swim lessons, water safety classes and life guarding instruction.

SOAS is our local Special Olympic organization conducting athletic screenings, training and organizing competitions leading to the Games every four years