Representing Canada

CAPTION: The four Prince County men that will be representing Canada in the Special Olympic games in Greece this year. From left: Lew Champion, Mark Ramsay, Glendon Arsenault and Travis Perry.

Representing Canada

Four Prince County men head to Greece to represent Canada in Special Olympics in Greece.

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Four Prince County men are going to compete in the Special Olympics softball event in Athens, Greece at the end of June.

Travis Perry of Miscouche, Glendon Arsenault of Traveler’s Rest and Mark Ramsay of Summerside are three of the men on the P.E.I. softball team that is going to represent Canada at the Special Olympic games this summer.

The fourth is associate coach Lew Champion. They will be one of two teams representing Canada, the other from Kelowna, British Columbia. The other teams competing in the tournament are Australia, Dominican Republic, Greece, Russia and the United States.

The 14-player team, all of them from the Island, are coached by Richard Douilette, Judy Gallant and Champion.

Champion said when they went to the National Summer Olympic games in Ontario last July there was always the hope they would move on to the games in Athens.

“There was always that little hope in the back of your mind. At the three other Canadian games they were at they won bronze, bronze, bronze and this time they won gold,” he said. “I’m still pinching myself, it’s a big deal.”

He said their biggest strength is the easiest thing to pick out.

“Hitting. Without a doubt they can hit anything.”

Champion said although winning a medal would be great, he hopes the team has fun.

“I just hope the players will meet a lot of people from other countries and make friends,” he said. “Everybody wants to win, but they taught me winning is a bonus.”

He said the team and himself are honoured to be representing Canada at the games.

“It’s probably the biggest honour I’ve ever had. Seriously. For any athlete or coach in any age bracket or classification, this is as good as it’s ever going to get, to represent your country.”

The three Summerside athletes, Arsenault, Ramsay and Perry weren’t shy about sharing how good it felt to be apart of one of the Nation’s team.

“Great. It’s a dream come true,” said Arsenault.

“I’m really excited. It’s my first time representing this country and I’m really pumped for it,” said Ramsay.

“I feel proud of this team,” said Perry. “We’re going to have fun and win.”

The teammates all had ideas on how to be successful in the tournament.

“We have to listen to our coach and keep our eye on the ball and focus on where the ball is going,” said Perry.

“We got to work hard, play hard and see where those things bring us,” said Ramsay.

“(Things that have to be done well) Hitting, pitching and catching,” said Arsenault.