The official start of Special Olympics 2018 Canada Summer Games kicked off Tuesday evening with the opening ceremonies in Antigonish, N.S.

The Yukon’s contingent of 20 athletes, eight coaches and three mission staff was led in by 38-year-old flagbearer Gaetan Michaud of the territory’s 11-member soccer team.

All together, some 1,650 – 1,200 athletes – were on the floor at the Charles V. Keating Centre at St. Francis Xavier University, with flags from every territory and province.

“It was fantastic,” CEO Serge Michaud of Special Olympics Yukon said of the opening ceremonies in an interview this morning. “It was a little warm in there but it did not matter because everyone had a blast.

“Everybody was having a super time.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympic program that was started by Canadian Dr. Frank Hayden and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the former U.S. president John F. Kennedy. The first Games were held in Chicago at Soldier’s Field, with 1,000 Canadian and U.S. athletes in athletics, swimming and floor hockey.

Hayden was on hand for yesterday’s opening ceremonies during which a special tribute was paid to him.

The co-founder of the Games also helped to carry the Flame of Hope which was used to light the cauldron.

The Yukon contingent arrived Monday and the athletes visited their different venues, and had a short training day.

Yesterday they were treated to an event at Crystal Cliff Beach for a bit of a beach party on the ocean, sponsored by East Coast Lifestyles and Sobeys.

The competition began this morning and all but one of the Yukon athletes was competing.

Rhythmic gymnast Aimee Lien doesn’t start until tomorrow.

The territory is being represented by two athletes in athletics, four in bocce, 11 in soccer, two in swimming and Lien.

“It’s electric,” Michaud said of the atmosphere surrounding the Games. “It is hot as heck, humid, humid. I think with the humidex it’s 38.

“But everybody is having a blast, everybody is competing and Special Olympics has taken over St. FX.”

Some 65 Yukoners, families and friends, are also there to cheer on Team Yukon.

In the first day of competition, most of the athletes participate in divisioning events to place them in the appropriate division for the finals.

In soccer, for instance, Team Yukon lost its first divisioning game 3-0 to Prince Edward Island but won its second game 1-0 against Mississauga, Ont., and was scheduled to play later today against Peterborough, Ont.

The bocce team has completed its divisioning games and was scheduled to begin the round robin play this afternooon.

Jessica Pruden posted a personal best of 40 seconds and 61 one hundredths in the 200 metre sprint.

In the 1,500-metre final, Darby McIntyre finished fifth in a time of 4:58:01.

Michaud explained there’s only one final if the longer distance races.

Darby, well known on the Whitehorse running circuit, still has the 3,000-metre and the 5,000-metre.

“The 5,000-metre is his bread and butter race, that is his favourite race and that is where he has had his most success,” said the CEO.

Michaud emphasized, however, the Special Olympic program is not about medals.

“Medals are nice, but it is not our focus. Our goal is always personal bests.”

The Games run through to the end of Saturday.