'Slowly building the program back': Special Olympics in Lake County rebounding post-pandemic

The Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games are set for this weekend, and local athletes are gearing up for their shot at a gold metal.

But the journey to the games has not been an easy one.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Special Olympics in more ways than one. Since the pandemic, games have been cancelled, athletes quit, many volunteers left, and the program had difficulties finding places to practice. But after two years of work and a little help from the community, the games are back on.

"We’re slowly building the program back and we hope more people join us next year," said Caroline Van Dyken, a local Special Olympics organizer.

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What is the Special Olympics?

Special Olympics Florida offers sports training and holds competitions year-round for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In Florida's Central region, there are a wide variety of sports offered throughout the year open for athletes over the age of 8 that meet eligibility requirements. The program offers:

• Athletics

• Bocce

• Cheerleading

• Cycling

• Soccer

• Volleyball

• Stand up paddle

• Bowling

• Swimming

• Gymnastics

• Softball

• Golf

• Basketball

• Equestrian

Similar to rec leagues, Special Olympics hosts seasonal sports offering different sports at different times of the year. The program begins in the beginning of January and runs until May when they have their summer games.

Registration is currently open for the bowling and swimming season. The bowling season will run from May to September and swimming season will run from May to October.

“They train and then they compete in a regional competition and then from the regional competition they get chosen to go on to states," Van Dyken said.

How COVID-19 impacted the program

As COVID-19 numbers started rising, the Special Olympics shut the program down in 2020.

"In fact all we made it to was our county games and right after county games that year we would’ve gone on to regionals and then to state but when COVID hit, that got shut down," Van Dyken said.

During the COVID pandemic, the program lost a lot of their regular athletes and volunteers.

"Unfortunately, when you have something major like that, a lot of people that have health issues to begin with are afraid to get back around people," Van Dyken said.

That makes it difficult for athletes who use the organization as a place to meet and connect with others.

"Special Olympics is pretty much an organization that a lot of people with disabilities go to to find an outlet and a community that welcomes them where sometimes in the real world and just kind of in their day-to-day they don’t get the same opportunity," Danielle Hogan, Senior Manager of Community Engagement for the Special Olympics Central Region, said. "So I feel like for a lot of our athletes it really affected them in many different ways."

Van Dyken added that many of their volunteers for the Special Olympics are older retirees, which was another group that was heavily impacted by the pandemic.

"So when you have that combination of a lot of older retirees that are scared to volunteer and athletes that might already have health issues — they tend to shy away from activities like that," Van Dyken said.

And although the program is back up and running again, some are still hesitant to come back.

"A lot of our athletes are still kind of on the fence just because they are a community that is still at very high risk with COVID," Hogan said.

But the organization is working hard to make sure everyone feels comfortable to return.

"We're really just making sure that their health and their safety is a priority for not only the staff but our athletes, our volunteers, and really anyone in our area," Hogan said.

'It’s critical that we have locations to practice'

For the past two seasons, the local Special Olympics soccer team has been able to practice thanks to the City of Leesburg. The city has provided its soccer fields for practice.

These partnerships are what has kept the organization running.

"We... are very fortunate for the City of Leesburg and Lake County and just those relationships that we’ve built over the years that have been able to help with facilities and just having those connections to give our athletes those opportunities to practice," Hogan said.

Van Dyken said their program would not be able to run without cities or businesses partnering with the Special Olympics because they don't have facilities of their own to practice.

“We’re always looking for facilities. We’re looking for partnerships," Van Dyken said. "Volleyball did not happen this season because we had no facility. So if we don’t have facilities, the sport might not be able to happen."

"We have attendees that have always gone to volleyball and that’s all they’ve ever known and if volleyball is not happening then they do nothing. So it’s critical that we have locations to practice."

Hogan emphasized that the organization is always open to new locations to practice.

“If anyone has a facility to help out, these are just once a week practices that we hold within Lake County," Hogan said.

'The Special Olympics always needs volunteers'

As for volunteers: “The Special Olympics always needs volunteers," Van Dyken said.

"If there are other people out there that have a desire to get out and volunteer and be a part of this great community, there’s nothing like it. They should volunteer for a sport."

There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available, and they are open to all age groups interested in participating.

“Maybe someone isn’t comfortable with leading a sport, or they just want to help out, there’s all types of volunteering opportunities," Van Dyken said.

The Special Olympics is built around the support of their volunteers.

"We have 30,000 volunteers a year that we need to help keep these competitions going so they really are the grassroots for the organization," Hogan said. "So volunteering is huge within the organization."

Van Dyken said in the past, programs have died out because volunteers moved or were no longer in good health, but she's hoping to restart some of those programs in the future.

As for those who don't have the time to volunteer, the Special Olympics is also accepting donations, and just looking for people to spread the word.

“Another way to help is just helping promote and telling people, ‘Hey we’re back in Lake County, we’re trying to get things going again post COVID, and just getting the word out,'" Hogan said.

Want to help the Special Olympics?

Anyone interested volunteering or donating can contact Danielle Hogan, the Community Engagement Leader for Lake County, at 352-243-9536. For more information on Special Olympics Lake County, visit: specialolympicsflorida.org/central.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Special Olympics in Lake County kicks off summer games post-pandemic