THE Singleton Top Shot Bowling Alley was awash with green and gold on Friday with Australia’s bowling contingent practicing for the upcoming Special Olympics this week.
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For a lot of the athletes it’s their first time wearing the green and gold and they’re spurned to put on a great performance on home soil.
Australia has 72 bowlers in the Special Olympics who make up 18 teams, before the games start each team is put into a division so the competition is even.
The bowlers will be competing at Super Strike Rutherford and the public is welcome to attend and spectate when the games start on Tuesday.
The bowlers will also be in action on Thursday and Friday.
“This is our biggest team ever so we’re looking for gold medals,” head bowling coach Shirley Johnston said.
The bowlers trained until 4pm that day in one of their last hit outs before the competition starts.
Overall there are 400 athletes in team Australia and many of them will be spending time in the Hunter Valley over the next two weeks.
Athlete Paul Bell said this was his third time at the Special Olympics but this is his first time competing in the bowling team.
“I picked up gold for basketball in 2001 and in 2005 in New Zealand where our team went undefeated,” he said.
“I really think the guys will do well this time round.”
AUSTRALIAN ATHLETE: (Pictured right) Paul Bell (no relation to team mate Matthew Bell) bowls on Friday.
