Special Olympics BC marked its 45th anniversary in 2025.
Special Olympics Prince George hasn’t been around since the start of the program in the province, but is marking a milestone anniversary this year as well, with 40 years of operation in the Northern Capital.
Dee Neukomm has been with Special Olympics PG since the start, after answering an ad in the paper.
“I had a Downs Syndrome daughter who was 13 at the time, and she was wanting to participate in sport, but she couldn’t find anything that was her level,” she said.
“When this ad came in the paper, I went to the meeting and there was four of us moms there, and we got it started from there.”
Neukomm said she didn’t expect Special Olympic in Prince George to grow into what its become, or that she’d still be involved 40 years later.
“We started out with swimming and track, and then five-pin bowling was added shortly after that,” she said.
“It’s just really grown since then.”
Special Olympics Prince George now offers 16 sports, as well as two relatively new programs called Active Start and FUNdamentals to help get young Special Olympics athletes started.
“Special Olympics has become my passion, it’s very important to me, and I’m thankful that it’s gone this far,” she said.
“It’s really become a worldwide, it doesn’t seem to matter what country, but every country has Special Olympics.”
Over the 40 years, Neukomm said there’s a personal memory that stands out to her.
“My daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia, and she was a swimmer, but she couldn’t compete in the 1989 provincial games,” she said.
“But she did get to light the torch in 1990 at the National Games in Vancouver. To me, that was probably my most special moment in Special O.”
Neukomm has been to three World Games, which she says is hard to describe.
“There’s generally about 5,000 to 7,000 athletes, and then of course all the coaches and staff,” she said.
“Just to know that Special Olympics is doing so much good around the world, it’s very heartwarming to me.”
Neukomm said she sees the program continuing to grow in the future here in Prince George.
“Our sports have definitely multiplied, we have sports both summer and winter, so sports are available to athletes all year round,” she said.
In 2025, Prince George hosted the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games, and was also shortlisted to host the 2030 National Games as well.
More information on supporting Special Olympics in Prince George and BC, as well as information on getting involved with the organization can be found on the Special Olympics website.
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