‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’: West Virginia International Sports Jamboree returns to North Bend State Park

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

CAIRO — The WV International Sports Jamboree, for mobility and visually impaired individuals, kicked off at North Bend State Park on Friday.

“At the International Sports Jamboree for the physically challenged, a yearly event sponsored by the New Vision West Virginia Pioneers as well as AT&T Pioneers, young adults, teens and pre-teens who are visually impaired or physically impaired can participate in recreational events designed for them,” the event’s website said. “Basketball hoops ‘beep’ so they can toss free throws into nets they cannot see. Wheelchairs fly down 40-yard slalom courses.”

The Jamboree started with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday evening. This was followed by a free concert at 7 p.m. by Ritchie-County southern rock band the Midnight Outlaws.

The majority of the Jamboree events were held Saturday in the park. Attendees were able to compete in several games and events including, a 40-yard race, a slalom; mini golf; basket frisbee; horseshoes; a basketball free throw; a basketball game; a team relay; bowling; and a bicycle race.

Most of the games and events were for visually and mobility impaired individuals, but the slalom was for those who are mobility impaired, horseshoes was for those who are visually impaired, the basketball game was for those who are mobility impaired and the bicycle race was for those who are visually impaired.

Ben Pavlosky, 31, of New Germany, Pa., left, competes in the air rifle event at the WV International Sports Jamboree with the help of his father, Gary Pavlosky, right, on Saturday morning at North Bend State Park. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

There was an award ceremony around 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening during which the Jamboree Kind and Queen were announced. A participant talent show and dance followed the awards ceremony.

Sunday there a continental breakfast in the park’s lodge and then the event was finished.

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

“The telephone pioneers, they were charged with coming up with community actions to help support communities … they decided that they needed some kind of sporting event for challenged youth,” she said.

David Long, 38, of Logan, W.Va., was one of the people participating in events on Saturday and he said he has been coming to the Jamboree for about 20 years.

Caitlin Railey, 25, of Huntington, W.Va., center, runs in the 40-yard race on Saturday, with the assistance of helpers, during the WV International Sports Jamboree at North Bend State Park. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“All my friends are up here, all my family,” he said about why he comes to the Jamboree.

Caitlin Railey, 25, of Huntington, W.Va., was one of the runners in the 40-yard race Saturday and came to the Jamboree with her mother Anne Railey.

During the 40-yard race, a pulley system is used to help participants run, as well as helpers assisting the runners and there are people waiting at the end of the race to catch the runners, according to Hess.

Caitlin started coming to the Jamboree when she was eight, which is the youngest people can participate, according to Anne.

Anne loves “that everybody’s equal and they have their special day” at the Jamboree.

Jacob Lowe, 32, of Barboursville, plays mini golf Saturday during the WV International Sport Jamboree. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Caitlin said she likes competing in the 40-yard race and “being with people that has almost the same problems as me.”

Stormy Edmond, 32, also competed in the 40-yard race on Saturday. She came from near Grafton, W.Va., with her family.

She said the race was good and her favorite event is the air rifle.

During the air rifle, participants shoot at a target and balloons with an air rifle with the assistance of a helper.

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

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

“You get to hang with friends,” she said. “It’s a good weekend to get away.”

Jacob Lowe, 32, of Barboursville, W.Va. came with his mom Shirley Samson to the Jamboree and participated in events on Saturday, including mini golf.

Samson said this is Lowe’s first time at the Jamboree and they came because it was opened up to people with autism this year.

She said children with autism don’t usually have good social skills and Lowe worked on improving his social skills.

Now “he’s a social butterfly,” Samson said .

Evan Foley, 19, of Clarksburg, was also fairly new to the Jamboree. His father Eric Foley said it is Evan’s second year at the event and they heard about the event because Evan’s mother knows Hess.

Evan Foley said his favorite event is “bowling” and he comes because of the “people.”

Matt Walker, 38, from Frametown, W.Va., came with his family to the event and has been doing so for a long time.

He said he has come to the Jamboree “since I was little.”

According to Walker, he doesn’t have one favorite event.

His favorite thing about the Jamboree is “everything” and he comes because he wants “to see everyone.”

Participants in the Jamboree attend for free and stay in the cabins and lodges in North Bend State Park, Hess said.

She said their food is all paid for and provided at the park too.

According to Hess, they pay for the event through fundraisers and sponsorships. People can sponsor a participant to cover their expenses.

There were 32 participants in the Jamboree this year but in past years they have had as high as 75 people participating. According to Hess, COVID slowed down attendance but it is starting to pick up.

“We want more participants,” she said. “We want more people to come to the event.”

She also said more volunteers and sponsors are needed. People who want to volunteer, be a sponsor or who have questions can contact Hess at 304-838-2868 or kke8837@yahoo.com.

Ben Pavlosky, 31, was another participant in the Jamboree on Saturday and like many others he has attended the event for a long time.

He came with his father Gary Pavlosky, from New Germany, Pa. and said he has been coming to the Jamboree since he was 11 or 12-years-old.

Ben’s favorite event is the air rifle

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

He feels like the New Vision West Virginia Pioneers and the AT&T Pioneers are like his aunts and uncles and he is glad people are able to pull the event off every year.

He also said the Jamboree is the silver lining in the middle of the year.

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

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com