‘Everyone is here to have fun’: Special Olympic athletes to flock to London for Ontario School Championships next month

Special Olympic athletes to flock to London for Ontario School Championships next month

More than 1,000 student athletes are set to come to London next month for the 2026 Special Olympics (SO) Ontario School Championships.

“We have teams that come all the way from Thunder Bay down to Windsor,” said Molly Spratt, a teacher and SO coach at H.B. Beal Secondary School.

“It’s a really awesome chance to see our athletes and partners throughout Ontario come and compete with such a great spirit and sportsmanship.”

A one-month kickoff event took place Tuesday at Beal, featuring a local floorball qualifier.

“Everyone is here to have fun, and you always make new friends from different schools,” said Owen Langdon, a SO athlete from Westminster Secondary School.

“I grew up in a family where they didn’t let me win easily, so I like the competition.”

Hosted by the London Police Service (LPS), the games will feature five sports: bocce, 3-on-3 basketball, soccer, athletics and floorball.

“This is a partnership that has been established decades ago,” said LPS Deputy Chief Treena MacSween.

“This is the first time we are hosting it here in London. You see all the events that we get to be involved in throughout the year, not just Polar Plunge, but the Law Enforcement Torch Run. It’s something that police services from across the province are involved in, and we’re just so excited.”

One of the unique aspects of the upcoming games is the unified competition. It pairs SO student athletes with one or two unified partner students on the same team.

“You get to connect with a lot of these kids,” said Xander Kanishiro, a Beal student who coaches and plays as a unified athlete.

“Some of them are a little scared of you when you first come around, but getting to know them, they’re all fun people, and being included with their sports is really fun.”

The goal of the unified partnership is to reduce bullying in schools and forge bonds between students with and without disabilities.

“Seeing them come up to you in the halls with a big smile is awesome,” added Kanishiro.

“It’s the best feeling in the world, and they are our buddies for sure.”

Spratt said unified sports bring camaraderie to the school.

“It really brings people together,” she said. “Everyone gets excited, and it is definitely the definition of good vibes in here.”

Langdon said he is thankful for the helpers who allow him to compete.

“They’re just amazing,” he said. “Like the EAs (educational assistants), the teachers and the two kids we have here with us. They’re just great, great people. They want to see us compete.”

Competitions will take place May 26 to 28, 2026, at Western University.