Sports

Student Athlete Hosts Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies

WHEN SPECIAL OLYMPICS OREGON (SOOR) asked UP athlete Henry Cheney ’20, ’21 to emcee the 2021 Winter Virtual Games Opening Ceremonies, he was humbled and excited by the opportunity. “One of our directors for athletics asked me if I wanted to do it, and I was so pumped,” he says.

Although UP Athletics and SOOR have maintained a relationship for a couple of years now, the two communities started working more closely after both groups found themselves in a tight spot when the pandemic struck, sitting on the sidelines after COVID-19 safety regulations prevented any sports events or competition. “There was a cool connection where they didn’t have much going on and we didn’t have much going on,” Cheney says. “It was a great opportunity for people to come together and talk about sports and talk about what it would be like to play sports.”

As the relationship grew stronger, they started participating in more activities together: social hours so athletes could get to know each other better, workout classes hosted by several different UP teams, dance parties with DJs. The two groups managed to do this all virtually over video calls, adapting to the challenges both communities faced during the pandemic.

Athletes from SOOR had been waiting in anticipation to compete, and the Winter Virtual Games became the perfect outlet. “Everybody knew how important this was to Special Olympics Oregon,” Cheney says. “Our community, coaches and players, rallied around [the event].” Athletes competed in four different events throughout the week: esports, basketball, fitness as sport, and athletics, and in the next week were awarded for their participation in each category.

For the opening ceremonies, Cheney, along with co-host and participating athlete Rachel Parsons, presented a collection of messages from coaches, athletes, sponsors, and other volunteers offering encouragement and support for the coming days of competition. “One thing I did love in the Virtual Games was the Polar Plunge and seeing everybody dunk those buckets of water on their head,” he says.

Cheney left the Games feeling excited to work with SOOR again someday soon. “It was such a cool opportunity,” he adds. “I would do it again in a heartbeat if they asked me.” —Danny McGarry ’17