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Special Olympics El Salvador Alexander Castillo says "Sports also change the attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities in my country. It’s good for the athletes.” [Photo by Kathy Smallwood] |
Alexander Castillo, 25, a Special Olympics athlete from Mejicanos, would rather compete in athletics than do anything else. He said he’s been excited about sports since he was a child and thinks that sports in general are healthy and that’s another reason he likes them.
“Many people in my country believe sports are heavy and hard. They are not, it releases stress. Sports also change the attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities in my country. It’s good for the athletes,” Castillo said.
Castillo loves people as much as sports. He enjoys different cultures, and after crossing a continent he’s perfected the art of meeting people. “He’s easy to spot,” said coach Juana Montenegro. “Alexander tries to meet as many kindred spirits as he can and practice various languages. He has introduced himself to scores of people from different countries.” It’s easy to do that at Morton Stadium, the athletics venue. It is pulsing with a lot of activity and so packed with people that you can bump someone with your elbow — just the way Castillo likes it.
Montenegro, who has been a coach with Special Olympics for four years, and is a physical therapist, said, “It is excellent the way the athletes have been welcomed in Ireland, but it is not always the same in El Salvador. Life should be better for athletes every day not just here at World Games. But we are working on that!” she said.
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