By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
More than 150 athletes competed in the Special Olympics Connecticut Fall Festival bocce competition at the city’s Old Grove Park courts Saturday and Sunday.
The 2024 Unified Sports Fall Festival tournament, presented by Mohegan Sun, showcased Special Olympians from several teams statewide, including West Haven, Hamden, North Haven, Westport and New Milford.
The opening ceremony, held on the grounds of the historic shoreline park Saturday morning, included a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard and the singing of the national anthem by West Haven High School sophomore Barrett Welch.
It also included remarks by Mayor Dorinda Borer, master of ceremonies Lisa Kovlakas, a member of the Special Olympics Connecticut board of directors, and Katie Dennett, Special Olympics’ director of partnerships and corporate relations. Kovlakas is ESPN’s manager of strategic partnerships and corporate citizenship.
Borer thanked Special Olympics Connecticut for choosing West Haven as the host site and organizing the bocce competition. The mayor also welcomed the hundreds of athletes and their families to the city.
“We’re going to be cheering you on!” said Borer, who received a framed certificate of thanks from Kovlakas on behalf of Special Olympics Connecticut President and CEO Michael B. Mason.
The ceremony was attended by state Rep. Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven, and Councilmen Gary Donovan, D-4, and Mackie McMillian, D-5.
As DJ Steve Gourdier played Tina Turner’s “The Best,” bocce competitor Carly Schwartz of Team West Haven Inc. carried the Special Olympics torch into the venue with West Haven Police Chief Joseph S. Perno. The torchbearers received a police escort by Capt. Joseph Romano and Officers Rozimara Ramos and Abdoul Aremu.
“Let the Games begin,” Kovlakas proclaimed.
The city last hosted the bocce competition nine years ago. The courts, six in all, were donated and constructed by Special Olympics Connecticut for the Special Olympics World Games bocce competition in July 1995.
In addition to the bocce competition in West Haven, sailing took place at The Wadawanuck Club in Stonington, softball at the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Club in East Hartford and golf at Sleeping Giant Golf Course in Hamden.
On Sept. 28-29, the croquet competition will take place at the Ocean House in Rhode Island.
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners — their teammates without disabilities.
Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities statewide and in 190 countries worldwide by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field.