News

Actions

Thousands of volunteers keep Special Olympics Colorado going

Posted at 7:00 AM, Apr 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-15 13:57:00-04

DENVER -- Special Olympics Colorado puts on more than 100 competitions every year in 22 different sports.  Coaches are just some of the 9,000 volunteers that make it all possible.

“My brother was a special Olympic volunteer before I was,” Ciara deVenecia told Denver7. “All the swimmers are so nice and it’s just so fun to see them smile every time they get into the pool.”

Randy Hass has been coaching the Cherry Creek Special Olympics Aquatics team for nearly a decade. 

“Practicing for the athletes year round, it’s a great sport for them to just work on their overall health,” Randy said, adding that seeing the athletes reach personal goals is the biggest thrill.

“Robin today for instance, she swam 20 feet in the pool. I’ve watched Robin now for eight years. For five years she never left the wall, so she just swam 20 feet today. That’s huge for us,” he said. “To see their reaction, it’s like when a football player wins the Super Bowl.”

To learn how you can volunteer, whether as a coach or at an event, visit the Special Olympics Colorado website.


Enjoy this content? Follow Denver7 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and download the Denver7 app on iOS and Android devices for continual access to breaking news, weather and sports.