Bailey Macklem
Local / Community
Vancouver
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I began volunteering with SOBC Vancouver in the summer of 2022 shortly after moving to BC and then later became a staff member too! I was looking to make a meaningful impact in my community and was blown away by how amazing SOBC athletes are and how joyful the SOBC community is.
Will this be your first Special Olympics Canada Games? If not, what other National Games were you part of and in what role(s)?
This will be my first SOC Games!
What does being part of Special Olympics Team BC 2026 mean to you?
To me, being a part of SO Team BC means uplifting our athletes to represent our province with integrity, respect and heart in everything they do. I am honored to be part of a team with so many amazing athletes, coaches and mission staff members.
What is/are your goal(s) for National Games?
My goal for National Games is to ensure all of our Team BC athletes are healthy, focused and competing to the best of their abilities. This opportunity only comes around once every four years so I want to make sure our athletes have the best experience possible (and obviously, we'll have tons of fun along the way).
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
I always say that every new competition is my favourite competition - it's too hard to pick just one.
What does competing at National Games mean to your athletes? (Or, if this is your first National Games, competition in general).
Competition means so much to our athletes. It is an opportunity to showcase their skills, their athleticism and all of the hard work they've put into sport practices throughout the year. This is a chance to push themselves to even greater levels of excellence and doing so on the national stage is pretty cool too.
What developments are you excited to see in your Team BC sport team leading up to National Games?
Our soccer teams are already pretty locked in, but I'm excited to see them come together to play as one cohesive unit instead of a group of individual players. Our Soccer coaches have done a fantastic job supporting that piece.
What would you say about Special Olympics to encourage someone to get involved?
Special Olympics is so much more than meets the eye. Not only do Special Olympics programs provide opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports they may have never tried otherwise, it provides them with a sense of community, fosters confidence and leads to life changing outcomes. It is a beautiful thing to be a part of and being part could change your life too, if you let it!