Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) has named Mitch Camp, of Special Olympics St Albans, as Chair and James Wyatt, of Special Olympics Derbyshire, as Vice Chair of its Athlete Leadership Team (ALT).

Special Olympics GB uses the power of sport to transform the lives of people with an intellectual (learning) disability and its Athlete Leadership Team, which announced seven new members last week, represents the voice and opinions of all registered Special Olympics GB athletes.

James and Mitch were elected following a democratic voting process for all qualified Athlete Leaders, who attended its recent Athlete Leadership Forum in London.

“It is a great honour for me to be elected by my fellow athletes to be Chair of the Special Olympics GB ALT,” said Mitch Camp. “I have been a Special Olympics GB athlete for 20 years and looking back at when my journey started, I am proud of the progress that I have made in sport and, more importantly, as a person with an intellectual disability.

“As Chair, I want to continue the great work of my predecessors Katie Day and Ian Harper, by encouraging athletes to give their thoughts and opinions, and to help our Board and National Office team change more lives through sport.”
By Mitch Camp

Mitch, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, was born with Apert Syndrome and joined Special Olympics St Albans club in 2009. He went on to represent the nation at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, in 2015, where he won gold, silver and bronze medals in athletics.

He completed the organisation’s Athlete Leadership course in 2022 and was appointed on the ALT at the start of the following year, where he took on the role of Secretary.

James, who lives in Smalley near Heanor in Derbyshire, was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, epilepsy and a mild learning disability in childhood. He joined Special Olympics Derbyshire in 2010 and was subsequently selected for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019, where he won a bronze medal in badminton.

Upon return, he set-up the Derbyshire All Stars Badminton Club, with his Dad Anthony, where he coaches Special Olympics Derbyshire athletes every Wednesday evening.

“I’ve absolutely loved the journey that I have been on with Special Olympics GB and I want to use my position to help inspire other people, with an intellectual disability, as to what we can achieve,” said James.

“Being part of the Special Olympics GB movement has given me more confidence and the ability to express my voice and opinions more. I’m very excited to be working alongside Mitch as Vice Chair and helping spread the word of the great work that the charity does.”

Both Mitch and James will start in their new positions a Chair and Vice Chair from 1 January 2025 and serve a two-year term.