May 14-17, 2019 Toronto, Ontario
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2,000 ATHLETES 500 COACHES 7 INTERNATIONAL REGIONS 5 SPORTS 4 DAYS 1 UNIFIED WORLD MAY 14-17, 2019 TORONTO, ONTARIO MAY 14-17, 2019 @YouthGames2019 #YouthGames2019 TORONTO, ONTARIO YouthGames2019.com GAMES PARTNERS CONTENTS GAMES HOSTS 3 Welcome Letters 11 50th Anniversary 13 About the Games 16 Schedule of Events FUNDING PARTNERS 17 Venues 22 The Athletes 23 Athletics 31 Basketball ™ 38 Bocce 43 Floor Hockey 49 Soccer SPORT PRESENTING HEALTHY ATHLETES HONOURED GUEST 55 University/College PARTNER PARTNER RECEPTION SPONSOR Basketball Championships 57 Intermediate Floor Hockey Championships 61 Healthy Athletes FAN ZONE FINAL LEG TRANSPORTATION 63 Draft an Athlete PARTNER SPONSOR SUPPORTER 65 Our Volunteers 66 Mascots 69 Credits 71 Autographs MEDIA PARTNERS Welcome Message from Honorary Chair, Chief Mark Saunders Proud Host Service On behalf of the men and women of the Toronto Police Service, I am delighted to offer you a warm welcome to our community, as you prepare to Wishing all the best to compete, and be proud fans for the inaugural 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. the athletes competing To the athletes – you have worked and trained hard at the Youth Games! to qualify and participate in these games. I encourage you to do your very best. You should be proud of your accomplishments. To the coaches, family and fans – you have mentored, and supported these brave competitors. I ask you to showcase how proud you are by being the greatest fans in the stands by cheering loudly. Thank you to the 1,000 volunteers that are able to help make these games a great success. We thank you for your dedication and time. For decades law enforcement in Toronto and around the world has been an active advocate, fundraiser, and supporter of Special Olympics. It is with the utmost pride that the Toronto Police Service are hosting these inaugural games and bringing their powerful unifying message to life. Please enjoy your stay in Toronto and let it be shown over the course of the next four days how sports unites and how we are – uniting the world! Sincerely, Mark Saunders, O.O.M. Chief of Police May 14-17, 2019 Message from the Mayor On behalf of Special Olympics Ontario, the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the It is my pleasure to extend greetings and a warm welcome to everyone Toronto Police Service it is a privilege to welcome you to the 2019 Special Olympics participating in the Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. Ontario Invitational Youth Games for student based athletes with and without an intellectual disability. Toronto is proud to host these games and welcome the 2,000 student athletes from around the world competing in this international sports event. You have In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics movement we thank already demonstrated incredible strength, dedication to your sport and you for helping us welcome over 2,000 athletes, 500 coaches and 1,000 volunteers perseverance by earning a spot in these games. To all the athletes competing, who will be staging competitions in five sports over four days. we wish you much success. We are indebted to the Federal Government of Canada; the Province of Ontario, the Sport is an institution that has the power to impact and benefit communities Municipality of Toronto; the Special Olympics Canada Foundation and motionball, across all divides, bringing together people from all walks of life, forging for their meaningful financial support as well as our many sponsors and partners partnerships and lifelong friendships, as well as educating, motivating and recognized in the program without whose support these Games would not have been possible. building foundations. On behalf of Toronto City Council, I thank everyone involved in making this event For the first time, high school students with an intellectual disability will have a possible and extend my best wishes for a fun and successful competition. chance to participate in an international sports competition. Special Olympics Ontario salutes its school board partnerships around the Province as we know do other Special Olympics jurisdictions; as these Games demonstrate Yours truly, the power of age appropriate and unified competition opportunities for our youth athletes. The Law Enforcement community across Canada raises in excess of $4million John Tory annually for Special Olympics, with over 50% of that total coming from the Province Mayor of Toronto of Ontario - raising the meaning of: "To Serve & Protect" to a new level. Thanks you all - let the Games begin. Brian P. Etherington CM, BA, CLU Chairman, IYG Advisory Council 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games O F F I C E O F T H E M A Y O R 100 QUEEN STREET WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5H 2N2 Premier of Ontario - Premier ministre de l’Ontario May 14 - 17, 2019 A MESSAGE FROM PREMIER DOUG FORD I’m delighted to offer greetings to everyone attending the 2019 Special MAY 14-17, 2019 Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. I also want to extend a warm welcome to the thousands of young athletes participating in this G H M T inaugural event, and to wish them the best of luck. reetings from the onourable ichael ibollo Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport I want to congratulate everyone involved in the Special Olympics On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am delighted to welcome everyone to movement on marking a half-century of giving people with intellectual the 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games at the Metro disabilities the opportunity to enjoy sports and to pursue active, Toronto Convention Centre. healthy lifestyles. As Minister, I value the important role that the Special Olympics plays in bringing My thanks go out to the donors, sponsors and volunteers for out the best in these athletes and spreading the powerful message of acceptance supporting this event, as well as to the coaches and parents who have and participation to people around the world. enthusiastically helped athletes realize their dreams of competing on I’m thrilled that t he Invitational Youth Games are providing high school-aged the world stage. athletes with their first opportunity to compete at the international level. This is their moment to step into the spotlight, showcase their skills in front of cheering And to all those who have travelled to Toronto, I hope you enjoy your crowds, and inspire their families, friends and the next generation of athletes. stay in our province’s capital and have the chance to take in some of the city’s outstanding attractions. My gratitude goes out to Special Olympics Ontario, the City of Toronto, and to the officials, staff, and volunteers for all their hard work. Good luck to all the Best wishes for an exciting and enjoyable competition! athletes, and best wishes for a funa nd memorable competition! Sincerely, Doug Ford Michael Tibollo Premier Minister PREFERRED PARTNERS Thank you to our preferred partners for their support of the Games! Continental Press May 14-17, 2019 HOST VENUES Thank you to our host venues for their warm hospitality and support! Dear Friends: I would like to welcome everyone to the 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. This inaugural event brings together over 2000 student-athletes from around the world to Toronto, Ontario, to compete in five sports. I would like to congratulate everyone taking part in this event and wish them the best of luck. You have also come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics movement, and I would like to thank everyone involved with the program for their commitment to making sports accessible to individuals with intellectual disabilities. You can take pride in your efforts to ensure the well-being of your fellow citizens. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable event. Sincerely, VALUE-IN-KIND The Rt. Hon. Ju stin P. J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada 10 #YouthGames2019 HONOURING OUR PAST, CELEBRATING OUR FUTURE Historical Overview The Special Olympics movement was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, with the very first event held in 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago. However, the competition was inspired by discoveries made by a Canadian researcher. In the early 1960s, a group of students at Toronto’s Beverly School became the test group for Dr. Frank Hayden, a sport scientist at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hayden was studying the effects of regular exercise on the fitness levels of children with an intellectual disability. Dr. Hayden’s research was nothing short of groundbreaking. It challenged the prevailing mindset of the day – one that claimed that it was the disability itself which prevented children from fully participating in play and recreation. Through rigorous scientific methods, Dr. Hayden proved that it was simply a lack of opportunity to participate. Given that possibility, people with an intellectual disability could acquire the necessary skills to participate in sport, and become physically fit. In other words, sport could have a transformative effect on the lives of those with an intellectual disability. Today, Special Olympics stands as a leader in the field of intellectual disability and has sharpened the focus on its mission as not just nice, but critical. Not just as a sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities, but as an effective catalyst for social change. Children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but their voices as well. Special Olympics continues to be a part of the world’s largest sports community for people with intellectual disabilities.