North Bend Park hosts International Sports Jamboree

RITCHIE COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) – Over at the North Bend Park in Ritchie County, The 44th annual International Sports Jamboree took place for those who are visually impaired or have mobility challenges a chance to get involved and meet new people.

The general chair of the International West Virginia Sports Jamboree Kathy Hess said that this event is a weekend for fun for all the participants.

“I hate to say this, but there’s not a whole lot of events or a whole lot of things that the communities have available for mobility and visually impaired youth,” Hess said. “So, this is a free weekend for them. We pay for them to come in, we have sponsors that donate money. So it’s free, and all they have to do is show up.”

Austin Smith, who has been a participant in the past, said it’s nice to see new people at the Jamboree.

We got new people coming this year, so that’s good. And our shirts, their different,” Smith said.

First year participant Niki Justice said she likes all the sports involved at the Jamboree.

“All the sports. Basketball, baseball, basketball. All kinds of sports.” Niki said.

Dalton Hughes says he’s met a lot of new people at jamboree this year.

“Yeah. Natty,” Hughes said on the favorite person he’s met at the Jamboree.

Hess added that the Jamboree takes a lot of volunteers for the event to run as it takes everyone involved to keep it running.

“It takes more than a committee to run the jamboree.” Hess added. “The committee has 20 people, but we need probably close to 100 to 150 people to actually run the jamboree. To catch participants, to be a referee, and to fixing the food. It’s a team event for all of the volunteers.”

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