The Special Olympics was hosted by Leicester, July 25-31, 2009. The games welcomed over 2700 athletes around Great Britain along with 6000 families. The Emmanu'-EL Apostolic Gospel Academy played an integral part in the staging of the Olympics as the choir was involved in a road show in April 2009 as well as a ministration that was hosted by the choir in the city centre to promote the Olympic games.
The road show
The road show in April saw the choir singing in Earl Shilton, Hinckley where we raised approximately £111 in less than one hour for the Special Olympics from only a few people who were in the audience.
The choir in the city centre
In recognition of the Special Olympics, the EAGA choir went on a bike ride from the Saffron Lane Sports Centre to the city centre where we ministered from approximately 11 am to 7pm. We met at the Saffron Sports Centre at approximately 9am and rode to the Demontfort University, singing along the way. On arrival at the Demontfort University we sang for a few minutes and then made our way to the city centre where we ministered from the time stated. This was a very productive and inspirational venture as when we ministered at the Clock Tower, crowds of people were informed about the Special Olympics that would occur in Leicester in July 2009. They were quite willing to donate towards the Special Olympics. During this period of time we raised over £700.
The arrival of the Olympic torch
On the day of the 25th July 2009 when the Olympic torch came to Leicester the choir sang at the Town Hall under the patronage of the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Leicester as well as in the presence of many athletes who had come from near and far for the special Olympics to see the torch arrive for the beginning of the Olympics. As we waited for the torch bearer, the crowd was treated to a range of entertainment which included the choir singing our song ‘Run, run, run’, a song specially written by the choir for the Special Olympics. This song got the crowds to get up on their feet and dance.
The EAGA choir also wrote another song for the Special Olympics entitled ‘Special Olympics: This is the day’. The athletes were very excited when they heard the song ‘Run, run, run’ and this lead them in dancing and singing as they heard the song.
The torchbearer arrived with an entourage of other runners behind him. The choir then burst out in singing with the song ‘Oh Happy Day’. For indeed, it was a very happy moment as the crowd, seated and standing on the lawn, gave a round of applause to welcome the torch.
At the Olympic Games Village- before the opening ceremony
Later that same evening, decked in black and red choir robes the choir went to the Leicester football stadium where the opening ceremony was held. We ministered in the Games Village for a period of time before the ceremony began as delegates and dignitaries including former Rugby player Martin Johnson looked on. We then went into the stadium where we sat and listened to the evening’s proceedings which began with the parade of the athletes, people from all over Great Britain who had various types of learning disabilities. A brass band serenaded the audience as they braced themselves in preparation for the appearing of the athletes. Many people sat in the stadium, waiting to witness this grand occasion, when Leicester would host the Special Olympics for the second time in 20 years.
They were all dressed in the team wear of the different parts of Great Britain that they represented as they entered with a warm welcome of great cheers from those who sat in the stadium and the enthusiasm accumulated into a joyous atmosphere. Their faces shone with excitement as they were all cheered for. These athletes participated in a variety of activities throughout the week which included tennis, table tennis, volleyball, kayaking, netball, football, golf, tenpin bowling, gymnastics, cricket and more.
There were a number of people who performed on the programme as well as those who gave their speeches in regards to the Special Olympics. These included the son of Eunice Shriver and the Prime minister of the United Kingdom, Mr Gordon Brown.
On Sunday, 26th July a small group of members of the choir went to New College for the Gymnastics competition. We were the entertainment for the afternoon as the athletes and their coaches waited to be taken to their different accommodations. They were very intrigued with the singing that came from the choir and even began to join in singing and dancing.
Volunteers of EAGA in the Special Olympics
Members of the choir took part in volunteering in the Special Olympics. We volunteered in areas such as in the Games Village, Athletics, Netball, Gymnastics, Tenpin Bowling, Cycling and Bowling.
Sis Annabel Mwagalani volunteered at Abbey park where cycling was done. She was quite amazed at the abilities that she saw and more so, how much the athletes were enjoying themselves- even when they were not the winners.
Sis Lola Longe volunteered at the games village where she dealt more with families and making sure that the families were been taken care of while they were at the Village. She offered them drinks and made sure that they were comfortable. She also tried to answer their questions whenever possible.
The volunteers who were at the Gymnastics Competition learnt so much from the athletes and they not only went there to see the athletes perform and learn from them but they also went to make an impact on the lives of the athletes as they ministered to them in song and dance daily during their lunch breaks and before they departed from the venue. The athletes were very grateful for this as it helped to cheer them up especially in times when they did not do very well in terms of winning a medal.
Bro Vusa Ndlovu was very instrumental in his delivery of a dance to the audience as the rain poured at the Saffron Lane Sports Centre. He enjoyed himself as he was involved in helping with the athletes and learning much from them.
The Netball competition, held at the Soar Valley College was an enlightening experience as I learnt so much from the athletes. There were people who had quite a number of disabilities which included Down Syndrome. Nevertheless, instead of allowing their disabilities to drag them down, they allowed them to propel them to a place of knowing that they can do it and excel too. On my first day at the venue I was shocked at their ability in playing Netball but as the days progressed, I enjoyed it more and more.
Members of the choir found the Olympics to be a very educational process and enjoyable period of time as we learnt that the learning disabilities varied from one person to the other and that these people were very capable of doing so many different sports that we ourselves have never partaken of. It was very heart rending to see the athletes participate in sports. They showed such wonderful sportsmanship amongst themselves as all were told that it was about team work and the fact that they participated was an accomplishment in itself.
At the Highcross
On Wednesday, 29th July, we ministered at the Highcross in the City centre as athletes came out with their families to shop. The Highcross was opened especially for the athletes and their families so that they could go shopping using some gift vouchers that they obtained. Crowds gathered as we sang the songs ‘Run, run, run’, ‘Special Olympics: this is the day’ and a number of others songs including ‘Oh Happy Day’. A request was made for a song to thank the volunteers and this was granted when Sis Melinda Charles sang a song to thank the volunteers on the spot.
The Special Olympics ended on July 31 with a party at Abbey Park. The choir went for a short period of time and then left. Nevertheless, for the moment that we were there we were welcomed by so many athletes, coaches and the families of the athletes who thanked us for our contribution to the Special Olympics and helped us to understand the impact that we had on their time in Leicester. This was the moment to say farewell to Leicester for so many as they went back to their homes near and far.
After all of this the choir has acquired more attributes in dealing with and respecting people with learning difficulties. Our eyes have been opened to the fact that because a person may have such a difficulty, this does not necessarily make him incapable of handling himself or herself in their daily lives.
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