Getting to Know Two Special Olympics Athletes, Up Close

With anticipation for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games this weekend, Pasadena has welcomed athletes and coaches from Namibia, Tanzania and Singapore into the city.

The Host Town Pasadena committee is providing food and housing so that these delegations can experience a ‘hometown’ experience while in Pasadena. The delegates will spend July 21-24 in and around Pasadena visiting the city’s landmarks, and preparing to compete at the World Games.

On Wednesday evening Kidspace Children’s Museum in the Arroyo Seco hosted the athletes at a special barbeque where Pasadena Now was able to get an up-close chat with two athletes.

Eduan Xougub grew up in Wintheok, the capital city of Namibia. One of six siblings, Eduan said his parents divorced when he was young leaving a negative imprint on him.

Although he did not know the name of his intellectual disability, he said he gets angry easily and he sometimes cannot concentrate well or forgets.

Rising to the top of the other competitors in his country, Eduan will be one of six basketball players to compete in the World games beginning on July 25. The team will compete in the under 21 age bracket. Namibia also has one marathon runner.

“I was afraid for the competition, but I am ready now,” Eduan said. “[Special Olympics] has changed my life. I used to stay in the streets, but now I do more constructive things, helping people, working,”

At home, Eduan is enrolled in vocational training to be a carpenter. Namibia has a dry and semi arid climate, so the thing about Pasadena he first noticed was the green space.

“Pasadena, it’s beautiful. I like the green everywhere. I have never seen it; it is calming to me. And it’s clean,” Eduan said.

Simon Muinjo, National Director of Special Olympics for Namibia, added that the people of Pasadena are friendly and open. He said he was surprised by the welcome reception.

“That’s what we are here for, we are determined to take home gold,” Muinjo said.

The eight runners from Tanzania are also expecting to get gold — only gold, the group said.

Age 16, Bonaventura Anga returns to his second World Games to try to better his silver medal in the half marathon. “Bona” as his friends call him has run since the age of six.

“Its very expensive to come here. Everyone in the community likes him so they helped sponsor him to come here,” Bona’s coach Julitha Lumala said, a Young Athlete Leader for Tanzania Special Olympics.

Bona’s community helped buy him running shoes and his school contributed by buying his plane ticket to come to Los Angeles to compete. He is from the Mtwara region of Tanzania.

“When I’m running it is so fun, it is simple, and it helps get rid of stress,” Bona said.

To find out more about where the athletes will be in Pasadena this week contact Kathleen Turknette at kathleen.turknette@amwins.com .

The Special Olympics World Games begins on the July 25th and will last for nine days at the USC Coliseum. The sporting events are free of charge.

Visit http://www.la2015.org/schedule for the complete schedule of events.