The countdown to competition has begun, as 108 Canadian Special Olympics athletes, plus 35 mission staff and coaches, prepare for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria March 14th-25th. Part of that team will be 7 athletes and 3 coaches from our province, including two athletes from Southern Manitoba. Snowshoers Chrissy Peters of Morden and Valerie Delorme of Altona, and Coach Sabrina Klassen from Winkler.

During a recent interview with PembinaValleyOnline Delorme explained she was speechless to learn of this opportunity.

"I didn't even know what to say because a few weeks before that I was in Newfound Land (for the Special O Canada Games) and I didn't realize, because of the medals I won at that point, that I got selected because it was based on number of points. I was like 'I'm going to Austria?!' and your adrenaline (is pumping)."

She adds everyone in Altona is excited for her to have this opportunity.

Delorme explains her start in Special O began in track until a friend encouraged her to give snowshoeing a try.

In fact, she says she's following in her mom, Lori Delorme's, footsteps. "She did track a while back and I think she did snowshoeing."

As for the competitive edge she plans to bring to the World Games, Delorme notes it's all about the level of preparation.

You can wish Valerie good luck during a send off event today (March 10th) at the Altona Mall between 4pm and 6pm, with an official program getting underway at 5pm featuring remarks from Altona Mayor Melvin Klassen, Rhineland Municipality Reeve Don Wiebe, and Altona Panthers Coach Gord Sawatzky.

In addition to athletes Valerie and Chrissy and Coach Sabrina, the following from Manitoba are also heading to Austria: Athletes Adam Lloyd, Elijah Ilag, Michael Milani, and Elijah Wood from Winnipeg; and Darren Boryskavich, from Russell and Coaches Joanne Zahaiko and Ron Struch of Winnipeg.

Team Canada, the third largest team at the Games, will compete in six different sports, including: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.

The World Games will bring together 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, and 1,100 coaches from as many as 110 countries.