Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past few days, there's been considerable talk in this House about Sport North and the organization of sport and recreation in the NWT. A lot of our discussions have been very political, sometimes confrontational and it's the nature of our business, Mr. Speaker, we need to have these kind of discussions and we will get through it. We need to focus more, I believe, Mr. Speaker, on making sure that the kind of discussions we have and the decisions we make really are focussed on the people that they're meant to serve.
Today I want to talk about the very best of what can be done in sport and the volunteer system that we have. More particularly, Mr. Speaker, I want to look at what people with mental disabilities can do when an opportunity is placed before them and a support system is in place to help them achieve their goal.
Mr. Speaker, there is an inspiring example of perseverance, hard work and faith that is evidenced in the NWT's next Olympian, Pierre Lafond. Pierre's winning performance last summer at the National Summer Games in Prince Albert earned him a spot on Team Canada's 2003 swim team. Tomorrow morning, Pierre will depart with 81 Team Canada participants for the world's largest sporting event of the year, the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. It's expected to attract 7,000 athletes from 160 countries competing in 18 events and it will be watched by more than a half a million people.
Special Olympics Canada is a national organization that provides sport training and competition for over 28,000 athletes and more than 8,500 certified volunteer coaches support these programs.
As a member of Sport North, the Special Olympics NWT Committee provides opportunities for people with mental disabilities to participate at their level of choice in athletic and sport training programs and competition. Mr. Speaker, Special Olympics NWT is a Yellowknife community-based organization with 38 athletes and 30 volunteers from different Nunavut and NWT communities and includes Fort Simpson, Fort Good hope, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Fort Resolution, Wrigley, Dettah, Rae, Fort Liard, Deline, Fort McPherson and Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement.