The first Special Olympics Caribbean Games will take place in Jamaica from July 8 to 11. The events will be held at the National Stadium, the Stadium pool and the UWI Mona Bowl while the Rex Nettleford Hall on the UWI, Mona campus will serve as the Games Village.
Over 500 athletes representing Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Suriname, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica will compete in Athletics, Football, Aquatics and Bocce (type of lawn bowling). Cricket will also be included as a demonstration sport between Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and host country Jamaica. A special feature of the Games is the Healthy Athlete Screening Programme which is designed to help Special Olympic athletes improve their health and fitness and enhance their ability to compete not only in the games but life as well. Special Olympic Athletes from the Caribbean have performed with distinction at the World Games, including the most recent Special Olympics in Ireland in 2003. The Jamaica Games will provide an opportunity for these Special Olympians to display their talent locally. Admission to the Games is free and the public is invited to come and cheer on these young athletes who have not allowed mental retardation to prevent the achievement of goals or the enjoyment of life.