Members of the Special Olympics Team Yukon 2018 were introduced Monday evening to cheers and applause.

Athletes, family, organizers and supporters gathered in the concourse of the Canada Game Centre for the rally.

Twenty athletes will represent the territory next August at the Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S, and another five will carry the flag in May at the National Bowling Championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

“Each of the 25 athletes chosen to be part of this group because of their performance at the qualifying events throughout 2017 in both Yukon and Kamloops, B.C.,” chef de mission Brettanie Deal-Porter said in her address to the crowd. “Athletes have been training two, three times a week in their qualifying sport and will increase training leading up to National Games.

“Athletes will not only focus on their athletic performance but also on health and nutrition leading to their overall preparedness.”

Members of the team will compete in bowling, athletics, bocce, soccer, rhythmic gymnastics and swimming.

Deal-Porter told the audience 312 bowlers will be take part at the nationals in May and more than 1,000 athletes will be participating in the Summer Games.

“I have had the pleasure of watching this team train and compete and am beyond proud of what these athletes have accomplished so far and excited to watch them succeed and reach their personal goals in the coming months,” she said. “I have no doubt we will make Yukon very proud.”

Deal-Porter took the time to thank the Yukon and federal governments for their support, as well as acknowledging the local corporate sponsorship from the Urban Realty Group.

Company representative Dave Pearson told the audience he was honoured to be asked to address the gathering because Urban Realty is proud of its commitment to Special Olympics Yukon.

It is the dedication of team members, their enthusiasm, their passion, just the way they carry themselves day to day, that is inspiring, Pearson suggested.

Pearson wished team members all the best and told them he hoped they achieved everything they want to achieve.

Soccer goalkeeper Gaetan Michaud told the audience he was looking forward to defending the gold medal Team Yukon won in Vancouver in 2014.

“To my teammates, every time we show up for training, let’s give 100 per cent and make Yukon proud,” he said. “Go Yukon!”

Following a rousing applause and cheers for Michaud’s words of encouragement, he led the team in the athletes oath.

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Amica Sturdy, a board member for Special Olympics Yukon, said it was fitting to introduce the team inside the Games Centre where so many athletes including Special Olympic athletes have trained and performed over the years.

“Over the next 10 months, it will be a common occurrence to see all 25 Special Olympics Team Yukon 2018 athletes training hard preparing for Charlottetown in May and Antigonish in August,” she told the gathering.

As Sturdy called each of the members of Team Yukon, the athletes, coaches and mission staff presented themselves to receive traing squad T-shirts.

The following are the members of Special Olympics Team Yukon 2018:

• Five pin bowling – Garry Chaplin, Lisa Bachli, Hayley Halushka, Wayne Thomas, Mallory Pigage, coach Krista Mackinnon, mission staff Lorrie Thomas;

• Athletics – Jessica Pruden, Darby McIntyre, coach Leah Greenway;

• Bocce – Trevor Beemish, Taylor Amundson-Briggs, Teresa Roberts, Carrie Rudolph, coach Deb Sumner, mission staff Janice Moor;

• Rhythmic Gymnastics – Aimee Lien, coach Kelsey Quinn,

• Soccer – Kenny Atlin, Sara Lee Edmonds, Rachel Dawson, Gaetan Michaud, Owen Munroe, Chris Lee, Jasmin Stange, Duncan McRae, Queyanna Thompson, Mike Sumner, Stefan Oettli, coach Ken Bins, coach Mike Atimichuck, coach Thayna Wasiliw;

• Swimming – Kevin Spofford, Ernest Chua, coach Annie-Claude Letrendre;

• Team Yukon chef de mission Brettanie Deal-Porter, team manager Trevor Twardochleb.