Barbados’ Special Olympians earn lavish praise from Sports Minister Stephen Lashley for their successful medalling and social media prowess at the just-concluded Los Angeles Special Olympics World Games.

The team returned to Barbados on Tuesday evening with a total of 17 medals: eight gold, five silver and four bronze. Their main star Tyson Browne not only gained international media attention but a whopping 5.12 million Likes through new social media forum Snapchat.

“This performance certainly deserves praise and acclamation. They have done, not only themselves, but Barbados proud, with these achievements,” Lashley observed, noting the gold-earning feats were achieved in the disciplines of bocce, track, and the recent addition of golf.

At the welcome reception held at Bagatelle Great House, Chair of Special Olympics Barbados, Mrs Donna King-Brathwaite spoke of challenges the team face in terms of funding and declared if each athlete was adequately compensated – it takes 200 to 250-thousand BBD every year to train each competitor individually.

The athletes also got musical treats from Ambassador John King, Don Trent and others while Digicel Barbados made a special presentation of a donation towards future competing.