By Regan Simpson – Contributor

During the basketball doubleheader held on Thursday, Nov. 16, observant attendees may have noticed the widespread distribution and adornment of vibrant yellow stickers within the gymnasium. Notably, athletes donned the bright yellow stickers during their warm-ups, symbolizing their endorsement of the No Good Way initiative spearheaded by Motionball for the Special Olympics.

Nov. 15 was No Good Way day, part of a national awareness campaign created by Motionball to bring awareness to the R-word’s negative impacts on Canadians with intellectual disabilities and their families; there is no good way to use the word. Students were encouraged to wear yellow to show their support for the No Good Way message. The vibrant display of support in the arena was not just a colorful dimension to the event but was meant to highlight the players and participants’ commitment to advocating for inclusivity and awareness.

A table set up outside of the Mitchell Gym offered education on the cause and the opportunity to take a pledge to never use the R-word. This initiative was part of a greater awareness campaign run by the Bishop’s Motionball executive committee throughout the entire week, the first of many Motionball events of the school year. 

Motionball is a national non-profit which raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics movement through social and sporting events. The motionball organization supports chapters in Canadian universities from coast to coast, with its mission being to spread its values and work to younger communities. Bishop’s has organized a Motionball chapter since 2018. Last year they raised $10,100 for Special Olympics Quebec and Canada.

The chapter’s capstone event is the Marathon of Sport in March, a day where local Special Olympic athletes join with teams of students to compete in a series of sporting events. Last year, the teams participated in events including touch football, dancing and benchball. 

On Nov. 16, Bishop’s hosted Special Olympic athlete Shelby St. Hilaire to watch the Gaiters take on Laval in Mitchell Gym. Shelby is a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and competing in alpine skiing for Team Quebec at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. He was recently selected to compete for Team Quebec and will be representing his home province in Calgary next winter. When asked about his experience at Bishop’s, Shelby had nothing but praise. “The best part about all of this,” he told Special Olympics coordinator Joelle Gagnon, “is that I got to meet and became friends with so many BU athletes, and the basketball game was good as well”. Shelby, along with several other local athletes, will be participating in the 2024 Marathon of Sport. 

Beyond sport, the event seeks to contribute to community engagement and social responsibility, creating a platform for positive change and unity. Ultimately, Motionball is meant to be a catalyst for breaking down barriers, fostering a sense of community and promoting the overall well-being of all those involved.

For more information on motionball at Bishop’s, check out the committee’s Instagram @motionballubishops, or email bishops@motionball.com.