‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: West Virginia International Sports Jamboree returns to North Bend State Park | News, Sports, Jobs

Stormy Edmond, 32, left, from near Grafton, West Virginia, competes with the help of a helper in the 40-yard race at North Bend State Park on Saturday during the West Virginia International Sports Jamboree. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

CAIRO — The West Virginia International Sports Jamboree for the physically and visually impaired opened Friday at North Bend State Park.

“The International Sports Jamboree for the Physically Disabled, hosted annually by New Vision West Virginia Pioneers and AT&T Pioneers, allows youth, teens and pre-teens with visual and physical disabilities to participate in recreational events designed just for them.” This is stated on the event’s website. “The basketball hoop ‘beeps’ and you shoot free throws into an invisible net. Wheelchairs fly through a 40-yard slalom course.”

The jamboree kicked off Friday with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m., followed by a free concert by Ritchie County southern rock band, the Midnight Outlaws, at 7 p.m.

Most of the jamboree’s events took place in the park on Saturday, where participants took part in a variety of games and events, including a 40-yard race, slalom, mini golf, basket frisbee, horseshoes, basketball free throws, basketball games, team relays, bowling and bike races.

Most of the games and events were for the blind and mobility impaired, but there was a slalom for the mobility impaired, a horseshoe throw for the visually impaired, a basketball game for the mobility impaired, and a bike race for the visually impaired.

Ben Pavloski (31, left), of New Germany, Pennsylvania, competed in the air rifle competition at the West Virginia International Sports Jamboree with the help of his father, Gary Pavloski (right), at North Bend State Park on Saturday morning. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

An awards ceremony was held on Saturday at around 6:30pm where the winners and queens of the jamboree were announced. The ceremony was followed by a talent show and dance by the participants.

On Sunday, we had a continental breakfast in the park lodge, after which the event concluded.

According to Jamboree General Chair Kathy Hess, this is the 44th jamboree.

“The telephone pioneers were tasked with coming up with community activities to support the community… They decided that there needed to be some kind of sporting event for young people with disabilities.” She said:

David Long, 38, of Logan, West Virginia, was one of the participants in Saturday’s event and said he has been attending the jamboree for about 20 years.

Kaitlyn Reilly (center), 25, of Huntington, West Virginia, runs the 40-yard race with the help of a helper during the West Virginia International Sports Jamboree at North Bend State Park on Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“All my friends are here, all my family is here.” He spoke about his reasons for coming to the Jamboree.

Kaitlyn Reilly, 25, of Huntington, West Virginia, was one of the runners in Saturday’s 40-yard race and came to the jamboree with her mother, Ann Reilly.

Hess said a pulley system will be used to assist participants during the 40-yard race, and helpers will also be on hand to assist runners and wait to catch them at the end of the race.

Anne said Kaitlyn started attending the jamboree when she was eight years old, which is the youngest age allowed to participate.

I love Anne “Everyone is equal and has a special day” At Jamboree.

Jacob Rowe, 32, of Barboursville, plays mini golf on Saturday at the West Virginia International Sports Jamboree. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Caitlin said she likes to participate in the 40-yard race. “Being around people who have pretty much the same issues as me.”

Stormy Edmond, 32, also competed in the 40-yard race on Saturday. She traveled with her family from near Grafton, West Virginia.

She said the races were good and her favorite event was air rifle.

In air rifle competitions, participants, assisted by helpers, shoot targets or balloons with an air rifle.

Edmond likes coming to the Jamboree because it’s fun.

Evan Foley (left), 19, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, poses for a photo with his father, Eric Foley (right), during the West Virginia International Sports Jamboree at North Bend Park on Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“I can play with my friends.” She said: “It’s a good weekend to get away for a bit.”

Jacob Rowe, 32, of Barboursville, West Virginia, attended the jamboree with his mother, Shirley Samson, and took part in mini-golf and other events on Saturday.

Samson said this was Rowe’s first time attending the jamboree and that he came because this year it was open to people with autism.

She said children with autism generally don’t have very good social skills, and Rowe worked to improve those skills.

now “He’s a sociable guy.” Samson said:

Evan Foley, 19, of Clarksburg, was also a relative newcomer to the jamboree. His father, Eric Foley, said this was Evan’s second year attending the event and that he heard about it because Evan’s mother knows Hess.

Evan Foley’s favorite event is “Bowling” And he “people.”

Matt Walker, 38, of Frametown, West Virginia, attends the event with his family and has been doing so for many years.

He said he came to the jamboree. “From a young age.”

Walker said he doesn’t have a favorite event.

What do you like most about Jamboree? “all” And he comes because he wants to “To see everyone.”

Hess said attendance at the jamboree is free for attendees and that participants can stay in cabins and lodges at North Bend State Park.

All meals will also be paid for and provided by the park, she said.

Hess said the event will be paid for through fundraising and sponsorship, with some people becoming sponsors to help cover the costs of attending.

This year’s jamboree had 32 participants, but in past years it has had as many as 75. Hess said attendance was down due to COVID, but is slowly starting to pick up.

“We want to increase participation.” She said: “I’d love to see more people come to the event.”

She also said more volunteers and sponsors are needed. Anyone who would like to volunteer or sponsor, or has questions, can contact Hess at 304-838-2868 or kke8837@yahoo.com.

Ben Pavloski, 31, was also at Saturday’s jamboree and, like many others, has been attending the event for many years.

He was there with his father, Gary Pavloski, a native of New Germany, Pennsylvania, and said he has been attending jamborees since he was 11 or 12 years old.

Ben’s favorite sport is air rifle.

“I’m blind,” Ben said. “The whole Jamboree is like a family to me.”

He considers the New Vision West Virginia Pioneers and the AT&T Pioneers to be like uncles and aunties, and is happy people are able to put on this event every year.

He also said the jamboree was a ray of hope mid-year.

“(The Jamboree) is the light at the end of the tunnel.” Ben said.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com.