Motionball at Thompson Rivers University is a fundraising event that uses sport to promote inclusion by connecting students with Special Olympics athletes.
The motionball Marathon of Sport takes place in 18 cities across Canada with the main goal of providing funding for athletes with intellectual disabilities and creating an inclusive environment.
This year, 18 teams participated in the Marathon of Sport, raising $21,000 for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Making it the most successful event that TRU has participated in during its six-year history.
During the event, inclusivity was promoted by students and athletes through playing a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, floor hockey and dodgeball, with their special athletes. Throughout the events, special athletes are cheered on and motivated by their teams, creating a supportive environment for them to succeed.
The event that started the day was the run out of all the Special Olympics athletes, during which all the students formed a tunnel for them to run through. Seeing the facial expressions and joy of everyone in the gym as the special athletes ran through the tunnel was a moment I was grateful to be part of.
Tyson Koop, a fifth-year setter on the men’s volleyball team, has been a captain for two years in a row for Megan Gourley, a Special Olympic athlete.
“I think it’s just all about inclusivity and volunteering. It’s a great event to bring people together, show teamwork, competitive spirit and most importantly, just having fun out here playing sports,” he said.
Volunteering keeps this event running, as it is a student-led initiative that creates a fun environment not only for the special athletes but also for everyone involved. Thanks to this volunteer work, this event is successful every year.
Many TRU athletes participating in the Marathon of Sport know the importance of sport and its impact on a community.
“I think sports is such a unifying theme, especially for us. Lots of guys on this team play for the men’s volleyball team here at TRU,” Koop said. “So we know how much sports mean to us, and to be able to help Special Olympic athletes have a great day and feel like a superstar, I think that’s super important.”
Another way the event promotes inclusivity is through its motto of “No Good Way.”
“One of the main mottos they use here is ‘No Good Way,’ [to use the ‘R’ word]. That [motto] is just about respecting other people … respecting everyone … no matter who you are, what you do or what you look like. I think respect plays a big piece in sport, and that’s why it’s such a great event,” Koop explained.
This movement, “No Good Way,” aims to eliminate the casual use of the ‘R-word’ in daily conversation. The point of this movement is to inform people that the use of this word causes harm to people with intellectual disabilities, no matter the context of its use.
“I think sports in general are so impactful in everyone’s life, not only for your physical and mental well-being but for building relationships, learning life lessons, and creating memories that will stick with you for the rest of your life,” said Logan Stankoven, a Kamloops-born hockey sensation playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.
This event definitely created core memories for all the special athletes involved, as special athlete Gourley, on Koops’ team, said, “I get to play with students from TRU … which inspires me.”
Being able to view this event truly showed how great a community we have here at TRU, and how much we, as a community, care for our special athletes.
As motionball continues to grow at TRU, organizers urge more students to come out and participate in the event. With a record breaking $21,000 fundraising total this year, organizers still aim to have even more teams out next year to raise money for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation.