These Special Olympics athletes are in it to win it in Grand Falls-Windsor

The team sports component of the 2019 Special Olympics NL Winter Games has officially begun in Grand Falls-Windsor.

"I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I'll win. I'm going to do my best," said Craig Aylward, who is competing in the curling competition with the Gander Wings Club on Saturday.

The games kicked off on Feb. 22 with a weekend of individual competitions. The team portion of the games runs March 1-3.

Premier Dwight Ball, Lieutenant Governor Judy Footeand musician Sean McCann were all on hand to welcome the athletes at theopening ceremonies of the team competitionat the Windsor Pentecostal Church Friday night.

The pews were packed with athletes looking to bring home some hardware.

"The social side of it is very important to them," agrees Marg Byrd, a coordinator with the Gander Wings Club.

"But don't get me wrong, they love to win. And they're there to win."

Tanya Briffett, who is representing the Wings in the bowling competition, agrees.

"I likes bowling because you get to have fun and it gets competitive. Well, I do," shesaid, laughing.

The winners from these games will move on to the Canadian Winter Games in Thunder Bay next February. And Byrdsays there are a lot of athletes in the province with the chops to make it there.

"This is really important," she said.

With files from Garrett Barry

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