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John and Sheila Nagel are looking forward to summer
- the sunshine, the beautiful vistas along Lake
Huron and, of course, the 2011 Ontario ParaSport
Summer Games. It's the third time Sarnia -Lambton
has hosted the largest multi-sport competition in
the province for athletes with a physical disability
and it's also a repeat performance for the husband
and wife volunteer team.
In 2003 they were part of the hospitality contingent
that greeted the competitors and coaches arriving
from all over Ontario. They also served meals at the
Athletics venue but when the Nagels weren't "on
duty", Sheila and her husband "would sit in the
stands and watch the athletes compete & it was so
impressive." They enjoyed becoming spectators and
discovering more about the specialized sports,
"People have to (learn about) the different
categories; they might not understand at first why
wheelchair athletes may be on the track at the same
time as an athlete with an amputation or an athlete
who is blind. It may appear that they're in the same
event but they are all timed and marked
differently."
At the 2007 Games the retired teachers, who also
donate their time locally to Pathways Health Centre
for Children, were introduced to goalball. "It's
rewarding in that you see past the challenges and
see how the athletes shine in the events," said
John. "There's no way I could do what the goalball
athletes do." His wife nodded in agreement, "It was
just the most amazing experience; it was a very fast
game - highly skilled & we were astounded. We loved
that and we've asked to be part of that again if we
can."
On August 19th and 20th the Nagels will be two of
the one hundred volunteers providing support to
athletes competing, not only in Goalball but in
Athletics, Boccia, Wheelchair Tennis and Lawnbowling.
In spite of a hectic schedule, Sheila is also
hoping there will be time for her to check out the ParaEquestrian competitions. "We help with the
horseback riding therapy program through Pathways;
I've always loved horses and grew up on riding
holidays. I'd be really fascinated to see that."
Both Sheila and John encourage spectators to
experience as much of the two day event as they can.
"They'd be really impressed because, it is amazing -
the level of competition," said Mrs. Nagel. "Just
their courage and enthusiasm - they know they are
athletes. They don't view themselves as having
disabilities - they've gotten past that so it's a
good learning lesson for all of us."
Sarnia-Lambton will host over two hundred athletes
and support personnel for this provincially
sanctioned event. Complete schedules and information
are available at
www.summer.ontarioparasportgames.com.
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@sarniasports.
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