Special Olympics Surrey (SOS)

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Special Olympics Surrey (SOS) was formed on 26 September 2007 and is part of Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB).

The mission of Special Olympics Surrey (SOS) is to provide year round sports training and competition for people aged eight years and older with a learning disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate achievement, experience enjoyment and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families and other Special Olympic athletes.

Athletes with a learning disability recently represented Great Britain at the 12th Special Olympics World Summer Games. The team returned home with a total of 224 medals. Following a successful two weeks in Shanghai, the elated athletes flew back into Britain carrying 84 Gold, 83 Silver and 57 Bronze Medals. "I am immensely proud of our athlete's achievements at the World Games," said Lawrie McMenemy, SOGB Chairman, "they have showcased their abilities and talents on a world stage, proving that they deserve just as many accolades as other world-class athletes."

SOS News

To see a timetable of what sports clubs are on offer for members and non members please click on the link below:

SOS Sports Club - Timetable

Sunday 24th August 2008 will go down as one of the most memorable days for Special Olympics Surrey. This branch of Special Olympics was only formed in September 2007 and it celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics GB by taking 60 athletes, parents and friends into London to celebrate the XXXth Olympiad coming to London in 2012.

The day started off by athletes dressing an open top double decker bus with the flag of SOS and of GB, the world flag from the Special Olympics Summer Games in Shanghai and yard and yards of bunting along each side of the bus which had been hired from London General Transport Services. We devised a song for our ride into The Guildhall Kingston. When we arrived the Deputy Mayor Councillor Rohan Yoganathan,  his wife Claire & Councillor Simon James (Olympic Champion for Kingston) plus other dignitaries and the press were waiting to greet us. After a number of photo shoots it was time to head for London.

     

Everyone on board were given 2 Union Jack flags to wave whilst aboard the bus. The plan was to drive to London, do two or three circuits of the centre of London, then park up and walk into St. Jame's Park. It worked like clockwork. People along the route waved, drivers in cars hooted their horns, even a train in Battersea blew it's whistle. We approached London and this was the time to make the call to the local radio station. Radio Jackie did a live broadcast with us when we entered Parliament Square. We asked for Tina Turner's song 'Simply the Best' which everyone sang along to.The front of the bus had the heading 'Special Olympics Surrey' and the bus number was 2012, as the bus slowed down in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus people started taking pictures of the athletes and the bus.

      

We then made our way to our drop off point at Buckinham gate for our short walk inIto St. Jame's Park so that we could watch the Closing Ceremony and the handover of the Olympic Flag. We sat and had lunch to the rehearsals of McFly and other artists that were appearing at the Visa 2012 Party 100 yards away. Time was now ticking away and the Handover Ceremony started. When the flag was handed over to Boris Johnson everyone went mad with excitement. Soon after people who were also at the celebrations started coming over to our group asking for autographs and having theor pictures taken with our athletes. The Visa 2012 Party in The Mall then started. People started singing and dancing along to the music. What an atmosphere then at 4.45pm just as the party was drawing to a close we saw the Red Arrows in the distance. When they went over it was so fantastic with the red, white and blue coming from each plane.

It was now time to go home and we walked back to our bus for the journey back to Kingston and New Malden. What a journey home, everyone is tired, limbs are aching from sitting on the grass, voices have gone because of all the singing BUT one thing we can say was 'We Were There' and we wouldn't of missed it for the world.

Report by Sue Frett

39 Teams, 39 drummers and over 500 paddlers made the Kingston Rotary Club Dragon Boat Challenge one of the biggest Dragon Boat events in the South-East on Sunday 20th July. The Special Olympic Surrey (SOS) boat may have come last, but everyone agreed that it was a wonderful experience for all the athletes, friends and families.

The Reside Team (The Reside Housing Association of Kingston) were the second team boat for SOS. Once the race had commenced the music of Hawaii Five O was played. This was very appropriate for Team Reside who were dressed in Hawaiian grass skirts. They won the prize for the best dressed crew.

      

Another amazing co-incidence was that in the Team Village the crew next door to SOS were the Hurricane Tigers Dragon Boat Club. They provided SOS with addition crew members for one of the races. The Tigers eventually won the Dragon Boat Trophy, but because they were a professional boat crew they were unable to accept the trophy and stood down to give this trophy to the Kingston Rugby Club.

This was a wonderful experience for the SOS athletes, and a decision was made that for next years racing the athletes will have practice sessions from May onwards with the Albany Sailing Club in Kingston, so that they have the chance of getting off the bottom of the team chart. The Special Olympics motto is "Let me Win but if I do not succeed let me be brave in the attempt" was very true. So much courage by the athletes was shown and all of the people present warmly welcome the achievement of the Special Olympics athletes.

On Saturday 29th March 2008 SOS hosted it's first Boccia festival at Richard Challoner Sports Hall. 8 teams entered this event which was a pan disability event. Volunteers from the recent Boccia Level One Course held in Kingston were on hand to referee the games and ensure that everyone played by the rules.

 

Each team were able to play each other once. The festival went right down to the last game to determine who would be the outright winners. After a nail biting finish SOS 2 came out on top with Sutton Mencap coming a close second. The Mayor of Kingston Councillor Shiraz Mirza and Councillor Patricia Bamford attended this wonderful event.

 

The teams that took part were:

• SOS 1
• SOS 2
• ROYAD
• Leatherhead Swans
• WAMDSAD
• Sutton Mencap
• Reigate and Redhill YMCA
• Spelthorne Sports Club

It is hoped from this festival interborough competitions can be set up. If you would like to find out more on how to get involved with Boccia please contact the Active Kingston Team on 020 8547 5207.

For more information about Special Olympics Surrey (SOS) or to find out how to join please contact Sue Frett on 020 8336 2768 or email: specialolympicssurrey@googlemail.com

Alternatively please contact The Active Kingston Team on 020 8547 5207.