Matteo Lucarelli
Local / Community
Vancouver
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I got involved with special Olympics roughly 3 years ago. I used to be a lifeguard and swimming instructor for children and got involved with SOBC through my university: UBC.
Will this be your first Special Olympics Canada Games? If not, what other National Games were you part of and in what role(s)?
Yes
What does being part of Special Olympics Team BC 2026 mean to you?
It means connecting and growing from the incredible athletes involved with Special Olympics. It means making their lives that much more special just as they do for us as coaches.
What is/are your goal(s) for National Games?
Facilitate an experience and create memories for our athletes that they can look back on proudly and fondly for the rest of their lives.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
Taking out swim team to the BC provincials and seeing the smiles and feelings of accomplishment on our athletes’ faces. Making moments like this possible and training them to accomplish things they are proud of is what makes it all worth it.
What does competing at National Games mean to your athletes? (Or, if this is your first National Games, competition in general)
It means getting the experience of working towards a long term goal with consistency and giving everything they have on competition day/days.
What developments are you excited to see in your Team BC sport team leading up to National Games?
Developing their Confidence and collaboration with their coaches and teammates.
What would you say about Special Olympics to encourage someone to get involved?
Whether it be a potential athlete or coach, getting involved sparks a deep feeling of what it means to be to be human, to lift one another up, to share joy and passion, and to develop a sense of community that ultimately shapes the way you carry yourself through life for the best.
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