Special Olympics athletes wait for their turn to shine during COVID-19 delay

Bruce Clarke was preparing for a statewide basketball tournament when he received word the event would be canceled.

From the NBA to Major League Baseball and from college basketball and high school sports, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. No one is certain when the games will return.

Including Special Olympics.

"I am friends with a lot of our athletes and I think they feel let down and that the Special Olympics was taken away from them," said Clarke, who calls Round Rock his home. "A lot of our athletes don't have a lot of activities outside of the Special Olympics."

Clarke might have been speaking on behalf of the 3,000 athletes who were scheduled to compete in the 51st annual Special Olympics Texas Summer GamesApril 30-May 3 in San Antonio. The four-day event would have included 800 coaches and 3,000 volunteers overseeing sports such as cycling, equestrian, basketball, soccer, tennis and track and field.

"For many of our athletes, the Special Olympics is their entire connection point to their community," SOTX communications director David Norris said.

Clarke, 31, was hoping for another chance to win a gold medal in basketball. When he lived in Phoenix, his team, the Westside Warriors, won the Special Olympics Arizona state championship in 2017. A few years earlier he had rappelled down a 27-floor building to help raise more than $1,000 for Special Olympics.

The 5-6 basketball point guard who admires James Harden is a survivor. He was born with a heart murmur and had heart surgery at 18 months. He also has endured kidney problems, low muscle tone and hearing loss.

Yet that has not stopped him from competing in the Special Olympics. During seven years of competition, Clarke has also participated in softball, volleyball and bocce ball, commonly referred to as Italian lawn bowling.

Jus Pratap Singh, 18, is another survivor. He was only 6 years old when he was besieged with neurological dysfunction, which rapidly diminished his ability to walk, talk or even swallow. He has overcome those challenges and has represented the United States in Special Olympics golf tournaments throughout the country and overseas. In September he earned a silver medal at the Special Olympics North America Golf Tournament in Nashville.

During this period of social distancing, Singh stays in shape by using a rowing machine at home. His father also built a hitting station on the family's back deck to keep his golf swing in rhythm.

"I was disappointed at first," said Singh, who graduates this month from Meridian World School, a charter school in Round Rock. "But, knowing that this is for everyone's safety, it is better we stay safe."

While the state event has been canceled, Special Olympics Texas has created a way to keep the athletes active. An online platform called S.O. Connect is a virtual program that provides athletes a home to engage in community challenges and learn three different disciplines: fitness and movement, healthy eating and extra-curricular activities such as art and games. Athletes are able to upload videos and compete with friends across the state in various games.

"Our athletes already have the challenge of being isolated and the Special Olympics is really their only outlet for social activities, so going to a virtual platform was important," said Sarah Ribeiro, director of development for Special Olympics Texas.

Norris agreed, saying the special athletes need to stay active until it is safe to return to regular outdoor activities.

"Though we can't wait to get back on the field with our athletes, S.O. Connect is here right now," he said.

___

(c)2020 Austin American-Statesman, Texas

Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.