Bowling Provincials Renamed in Honour of Rickey Burns
Special Olympics PEI’s 5-Pin Bowling Provincials has long been one of the most anticipated events of the year for Special Olympics athletes and volunteers. This year, following the passing of Rickey Burns, a long time 5-Pin Bowling coach, the event is getting a rebrand. This May 23-24, Special Olympics PEI will host the Rickey Burns Memorial 5-Pin Bowling Provincials.
Rickey was a pillar in the Special Olympics community. Know for his sense of humour, he was well liked and respected by all those who had the pleasure of meeting him. Rickey was always working, often behind the scenes, to advance the Special Olympics movement here in PEI. Whether it was securing hot dog buns for a BBQ fundraiser, or arriving early to open up a facility, to say that Rickey was dedicated would be an understatement.
The Rickey Burns Memorial 5-Pin Bowling Provincials brings together competitive and recreational bowling athletes from across the Island, along with teams from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This year’s Provincials will see 152 athletes, supported by 60 volunteers, participate.
New this year is the introduction of the Rickey Burns Memorial Awards. This award was developed in memory of Rickey Burns to honour Island athletes in the sport of 5-Pin bowling who embody similar qualities that Rickey shared, including a true love for 5-Pin Bowling, a great sense of humour, and kindness at their core. Nominations for the new awards will be submitted by 5-Pin Bowling coaches, and will be carefully reviewed by Special Olympics PEI staff ahead of the selection the recipients.
In addition to a quality competitive experience, in more recent years, the weekend also hosts Healthy Athletes screenings. These inclusive health screenings are part of Special Olympics PEI’s commitment to ensuring that our athletes are feeling their best physically, so that they can perform their best on the fields of play. Health Athletes screenings this year are being hosted on Saturday, May 23rd, from 9:00am – 3:30pm, also at Murphy’s Community Centre in Charlottetown. Any Islander with an intellectual disability, regardless of whether or not they are a registered Special Olympics athlete, can attend one or all of the 3 screenings offered: FUNfitness, Health Promotion, and Healthy Hearing.
Bowling Provincials has always been a weekend of connections. Athletes and volunteers alike look forward to the opportunity to reconnect with their peers and old friends. This year, with Rickey’s legacy as a reminder, athletes and volunteers alike will continue to experience the transformative power of sport.
