Sacrifice, commitment and a burning desire to win formed the pillars for Bermuda's success story at last week's Special Olympic Regional Games in Delaware where a nine-member team captured 28 medals, including a remarkable 14 gold.

Over the years Bermuda has thrived at this particular event and this year proved no exception as the Island's athletes, all from CedarBridge Academy, realised goals, solidified friendships and did their country proud.

"These kids are outstanding ambassadors for CedarBridge and Bermuda. When we stood up during the opening ceremony there was a huge applause for us because everybody knows our kids. We were just a big bundle of joy there," commented proud coach and ex-NFL star Ricky Watts on the team's return earlier this week.

"I just don't know what to say about these guys because they did an oustanding job and I was just overwhelmed by what they achieved. I knew the kids were capable, but once they got down there all of the training just kicked in."

The local delegation proved that proper preparation does indeed prevent poor performances, with former Chicago Bears wide receiver Watts putting his charges through their paces.

"I have been preparing the kids four times a week since the second week of September and we worked all the way up to the CedarBridge Academy Invitational Games and then continued right up to the Delaware Special Olympic Regional Games," he said. "And everything seemed to work exactly the way I knew it would, and I was very impressed with the results."

Leading the Island's medal charge was veteran Andrew Faries who won four gold medals in various events to take his overall Special Olympic Regional Games medal haul to eight.

"I can't even say how pleased I was with the kids. It makes you cry to see that these kids compete with the same passion that any able bodied athlete would compete at," Watts said. "That level of intensity is there, that competitiveness is there and they feel like everybody else.

"I was just so overwhelmed and thought it was great. They went out and gave everything they had."