They carry a suitcase with their own balls in it and they have their own bowling shoes. Tim Zselech (34) and Lieke Sweep (28) from Breda can be found at the bowling alley in Breda on Sunday afternoon. They are active there every week with their sport, but this time they are in the spotlight a little extra. They are followed by a camera crew from Omroep Brabant.
In the series, Lieke teaches the intricacies of bowling to presenter Leon van der Zande. “That’s very exciting, having a camera pointed at you. But I’m already getting used to it.”
Lieke has only been bowling for six months, but is already an ambassador for the Special Olympcs and she is proud of that. The Special Olympics is a sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities. “A lot of athletes come to this. It’s great to participate.”
The national Special Olympics are held in June in Tilburg and Breda. Participants from all over the kingdom, including overseas territories, participate. Two thousand athletes and a thousand supervisors are expected. They compete in 21 different sports.
Tim is also an ambassador for the event. “It’s great that we have the opening ceremony in our own city and the matches in Breda and Tilburg,” he says. He considers it an honor to be able to participate. But Tim has no nerves: “I just live for it. I have already won because I can participate. And we will see if we can win another prize.”
“Even when they lose they have fun, I’m jealous of that.”
Presenter Leo van der Zande gets to know the world of the special Olympians better in the series. And that comes in handy, he can also present the opening ceremony of the event.
The TV series has already taught him a lot about how the participants experience their sport. “I always want to win when I play sports, but they are much more about having fun and participating. I think that is the real gold. relaxedness that they have and the fun even if they lose, I’m jealous of that.”
Lieke is also in the same position. She really doesn’t have to win. For her it is about exercising with others and contact with other people. “No, you don’t have to win, but I will do my best.”
‘Participation is golden’ can be seen on Omroep Brabant
In the run-up to the Games, ambassadors of the Special Olympics are followed in the TV series ‘Participation is gold, on the way to the Special Olympics’. Leon van der Zande will play tennis, dance, korfball and bowling with the participants, but they will also have a trial sleep in the Olympic village on the Beekse Bergen.
In the series we also learn more about the private lives of the athletes and we see the ambassadors provide information at schools.
The series can be seen on Omroep Brabant from May 1, every Wednesday from five in the afternoon.
