00:01Now this year's Special Olympic Games gets underway this Saturday, May 2nd, at the Maniramjan Stadium in Marabella with the
00:08opening ceremony.
00:09The 2026 edition of the Games will see athletes competing in eight sporting disciplines.
00:14National Director of Special Olympics of Trinidad and Tobago Ferdinand Bibby explains why there is a new format to the
00:21Games.
00:23The format of the Games would have changed from the one weekend of activity as we did in the past
00:30to now over a longer period.
00:33And this is to provide athletes the opportunity to perform as well as support each other.
00:42Because the one weekend used to be so intense, all you used to do is come and compete and then
00:49go home.
00:49Now you have the chance, compete, go and support your peers.
00:54He believes it's beneficial to Tobago as well.
00:59It has also provided a greater opportunity for visibility where the public now have an opportunity to visit the different
01:09venues and see the activities.
01:12Before, once you miss that weekend, you miss the whole year of activity.
01:16Now you have at least three or four opportunities to see the athletes in operation.
01:24As well as by having the Games in Tobago, we provide the opportunity for greater numbers of athletes in Tobago
01:32to participate in the game.
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