Special Olympics Swim Meet returns to Windham

After a three-year hiatus, Special Olympics athletes had an opportunity to once again come together for competition, friendship, fun and more, during the 41st Annual Windham Special Olympics Invitational Swim Meet, on March 25.

According to event organizer Dr. Charles Wynn, two things happened after the 40th invitational meet in 2019 that resulted in the hiatus. First, the COVID pandemic temporarily shut down the entire world.

And then, the Board of Education in Willimantic decided that the pool at Windham High School, where the meet was traditionally held, was too expensive to repair. So the pool was permanently shut down, leaving the meet without a home.

“We had to find a pool that was suitable,” said Wynn, noting that, due to the clientele involved, not just any pool would do.

And then last year, the new Windham Community/Senior Center opened, complete with a brand new pool that met required specifications. Wynn approached the executivedDirector.

“I asked if they’d be open to the swim meet taking over this facility for 24 hours,” said Wynn.

The center welcomed the meet with open arms.

This year’s event included 90 swimmers and 150 volunteers, six certified lifeguards, and other volunteers helping to organize the distribution of free lunches provided by McDonald’s locations in Mansfield and Willimantic.

Local eatery Pleasant Pizza (up for a Best Pizza in Connecticut award) also provided pizza available for sale to parents and others not officially eligible for the free lunch.

In addition to swimming, athletes could participate in dancing, basketball, cornhole, and other games and sports, as well as arts and crafts. As of 11 a.m., everything was running as smoothly as clockwork, and Wynn said that this was a good sign regarding the future of the event.

Asked to describe the day, Wynn pointed to the event’s official motto: “Special Olympics is love and kindness made visible.”

“Everything we can do to make love and kindness visible sets an example for people,” said Wynn. “I can’t think of anything more effective if you want to have change occur.”

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