Every September, the Special Olympics Movement celebrates the ideals of the Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with an annual "EKS Day."In Malaysia itself, state programs like Special Olympics Selangor (SOS) and a district program with Special Olympics Sandakan, Sabah celebrated EKS Day with meaningful unified activities that builds closer ties between family members, members of the Special Olympics community, as well as members of the public.
SOS organised a bowling and bocce activity over the weekend for special athletes and their family members. Twenty unified teams of intellectually disabled (ID) and non ID persons took part in bowling, while another 28 unified teams played bocce the next day. There were a total of 20 unified bowling teams taking part, individuals with different capabilities, and neuro-diverse abilities coming together to play together and learn teamwork ad well as how to celebrate victories and accept setbacks.
Later national bowlers Timmy Tan and Siti Safiyah, the ambassadors appointed by SO Selangor, also came to join in the fun and handout medals to the winning teams.
The keglers get into action.
(L-R) Teik Kean takes a picture with his friend Shawn Yong.
Coach Nuri keeps a watchful eye on the Selangor girls bowling team, but also takes time to snap a photo with SOM Interim National Director, Connie Yee.
(L-R) Siblings Tynia and Sean, pose with Timmy Tan, Khai Lun, and Henry Hooi.
Unified Bocce participants doing warm-up exercise.
Athletes, unified partners, volunteer, coaches, and organising committees group photo prior to the start of the games.
Participants doing warm-up exercise prior to starting the games.
Mean while SMK Muhibbah, a secondary school in Sandakan, Sabah had a camping activity within their school compound, where the athletes learnt how to set up camping tents, and also held dance performances of various cultures, including the Malay, Chinese, and Kadazan cultures.
