A TALENTED teenager is preparing to go on the trip of a lifetime when he represents Great Britain at the Special Olympics 2015 World Summer Games.
Cradley youngster Sam Oliver will travel more than 5,000 miles when he flies to Los Angeles on July 21 to compete in the showcase competition.
The 16-year-old, who will enter in the dressage and trail riding events, will be one of 7,000 athletes taking to American soil ahead of the start of the games on July 25.
About 80,000 people, including President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, are expected to pack out the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the opening ceremony.
Sam, who turns 17 tomorrow (Thursday), was diagnosed with receptive-expressive language disorder – a problem with expressing himself and understanding what others are saying – when he was just four.
Dad Simon Oliver, who will also be flying out to LA with wife – and Sam’s mum – Jenny, told The Observer they had been fund-raising for the trip since they found out their son had been picked in May last year.
“There is not a percentage we could say for how proud we are of Sam, he is top of the tallest tree,” Simon said.
“Things don’t always come easy, but he always keeps his head down and keeps trying.
“We have been fund-raising to finance the trip and people’s generosity, whether we know them or not, has been outstanding.
“He will be riding a different horse which is an added complication but if anyone can overcome that, Sam can.”
Sam, who has trained at Ride to Achieve in Hereford for the past five years, added: “I am looking forward to it but I am also nervous and excited. “The time has gone really quickly.
I think it will be amazing and I have just got to do my best.”
Special Olympics GB will take 115 athletes with intellectual disabilities to America. They will join competitors from 177 countries, as well as 3,000 coaches, 30,000 volunteers and about 500,000 spectators across the week-long event.
Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics has grown from a few hundred people taking part to more than four million in all regions across the world.
Karen Wallin, CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: “I am delighted we are able to take such a large team to represent the country at what should be an incredible World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
“We will be proud of every athlete and we know they will strive to be the very best they can.
“We will bring home medals but most importantly our athletes will obtain memories, friendships and experiences to last a lifetime.”
