The second Special Olympics event was held in perfect weather on Saturday at the National Stadium, where the track and field meet took place after torch relays from across Bermuda.

Alicia Zuill, chairwoman of the Special Olympics, is hoping the event will continue to grow “considering the amount of athletes we do have here in Bermuda”.

The torch relay began in both St George’s and Somerset in the morning involving members of the Police, Fire and Protections departments before reaching the National Stadium together for the start of the meet.

“Hopefully, next year we’ll have more, we just need more of the athletes participating,” Zuill said. “This is about the athletes of Bermuda with intellectual disabilities.

“The committee is trying to promote them, trying to make a change in their lives, to do something for them that hasn’t been done in a very long time.

“Our aim is to take some athletes to the World Games in March 2019 and next year hopefully we’ll have more athletes out. This is our second year and this will be a yearly event.”

Zuill added: “I’m just hoping that the parents of persons with intellectual disabilities will come out and support this. We’ve been promoting this since September, sending it to the schools, parents and asking them to bring their athletes for a couple of hours and participate so they can feel like people care.

“The community at large needs to come out and support this, just like we do any other sport on this island. Our community also needs to understand that these persons are a part of us also and we need to make them feel like they are a part of us.”

A number of events were held — softball and tennis ball throw, shot, walking and running up to the 400 metres — with athletes awarded medals for top three finishes. Officers from the Bermuda Police presented medals.

“The motto for the Special Olympics is, ‘Let me win, if I cannot win, let me be brave enough to attempt’,” Zuill said.

“I am determined that this event will grow. The executive of the Special Olympics Bermuda, we all work together as a team.”