Athletes have fun at Thomas More’s Special Olympics stand: “We are putting the spotlight on unique G-sport coach training” (Turnhout)

A few months ago, the Special Olympics and Thomas More University of Applied Sciences concluded a collaboration. During the national games in Mechelen, this resulted, among other things, in a stand at the Olympic Village. “We offered various activities for the athletes and their supervisors who did not have to exercise for a while. That way they could do something completely different,” says Debby Joossens of Thomas More.

The craft corner was very popular. “Many athletes have come to make a drawing,” it sounds. “Some took them home to thank someone, but other works of art stayed here. With those drawings we will do fun things on our social media. The dogs that you were allowed to hug from vzw AAP were also appreciated by the athletes. It was super cute to see how the participants had fun at our booth. That is very gratifying.”

“Amused”

Laurent Van Belle was one of the athletes who made a drawing on Thomas More’s stand. He came past it after he conquered fourth place in badminton. “But I don’t just like to do sports, I also like to draw,” he says. “I learned to draw when I was little and I don’t think I’m doing bad at all. So I had a lot of fun.”

But there was not only tinkering and cuddling with dogs, there was also a lot of dancing in recent days. “We held one, among other things silent disco”, says Debby Joossens. “All participants received headphones and could choose from different channels. This way they could dance to the music they liked most. For example, for the French-speaking athletes, we had a channel with mainly songs in French. Not only the athletes themselves, but also the supervisors and their parents thought it was fantastic.”

Unique training

The supervisors also became acquainted with the graduation trajectory to G-sport coach within the Sports and Exercise program of the Thomas More Hogeschool in Turnhout. This training is unique in our country. “Several young athletes’ supervisors showed interest in coming to follow the training,” it sounds. “But it was also an inspiring event for our own students of Sports and Exercise and Event, who worked here as volunteers. Some of them would like to continue working with people with disabilities in the future.”