Some young athletes from Chatham are getting ready to head to Taiwan this summer.
Seven swimmers and a girls' 3x3 basketball team will compete at the International Children's Games (ICG) in Hualien in August.
Keegan Brennan, manager of Team Chatham and coach of the 3x3 team, explains how he first learned about the games.
"It’s been around forever. Windsor hosted back in 2013, and two basketball coaches and referees that I know very, very well brought a team from Chatham," said Brennan. "So it started to become that kind of an idea, well, could we do that again?"
Brennan added that Windsor sends a swimming team to the games every year.
"So we thought, ‘why not Chatham?’ I teach in the community, so I've seen the youth, I've seen what sports are like here. I thought this is a no-brainer, this is something our little community I know would rally behind 100 per cent," said Brennan.
The swim team roster consists of Liam Praill, Caellum Brennan, Finnegan Brennan, Renee Egunjobi, Clara Jennen, Olivia Bezaire, Kallie Barros and Head Coach Bob Lavoie from the Chatham Pool Sharks Swim Team. The girls' 3x3 basketball team consists of Callie McMullin, Kiki White, Zuri Willder, and Kate Regan from the Chatham Wildcats Basketball organization.
Brennan said the opportunity is finally starting to sink in for the athletes.
"I think the more that people start to ask them questions, and the more that they realize the magnitude of it, I think there's a lot of jitters, a lot of excitement. I think now they're, ‘Oh hang on, I'm travelling across the world to play a sport,’ which is just such a unique opportunity for anyone."
The athletes, coaches and their families are currently fundraising and will be hosting several events, including a BBQ at Sobeys in Chatham on June 12, 19, and July 12. There is also a Trivia Night at Sons of Kent on Tuesday, June 16.
Over 1,000 athletes between the ages of 12 and 15 from more than 30 countries will compete at the Games. For more information on Team Chatham Canada, visit https://www.teamchathamicg.net/.
