A four-day Athlete Leadership and Unified Summer Camp got underway on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Charles Walters Community Centre in Hanley’s Road.
The camp, hosted by the Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis (SOSKN), brings together participants with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for a week of leadership development, education, and inclusive activities.
Special Olympics committee member Yashema Martluck chaired the opening ceremony. It featured remarks from Terri Andrews, Clarice Cotton, Chair of the SOSKN Board, and Aljay Newton, Director of Sports.
Among the highlights of the opening ceremony were a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by a student of the Cecely Browne Integrated School and an inspiring testimony from a former student of the institution, who shared his personal journey as a Special Olympics athlete.
Following the ceremony, participants began the first of several interactive classroom sessions. The featured presenter for the opening day was business educator Mrs Trisha Mills, who delivered an engaging presentation on “Communicating with Confidence,” encouraging participants to develop effective communication and leadership skills.
Throughout the week, campers will also take part in joint activities with children attending summer camps organised by the Department of Sports, including football and basketball programmes. These interactions are designed to promote inclusion, teamwork, and mutual understanding among all participants.
The Athlete Leadership and Unified Summer Camp is scheduled to conclude on Friday, July 24, with a closing ceremony and the presentation of certificates to participants in recognition of their successful completion of the programme.
