Beyond the Headlines: The Moments That Stay With Me
Written by: Allie Wiebe | Communications Liaison, Special Olympics Team Canada 2025
At the request of our fearless leaders, Chef de Mission Charity Sheehan and Assistant Chef de Mission Juli Prokopchuk Brattan, my fellow Communications Liaison, Sarah Profitt-Wagner, and I have been asked to share a little of our personal perspectives from behind the lens, the keyboard, and the whirlwind of covering Special Olympics Team Canada at the World Winter Games in Turin.
The best part of this job isn’t about capturing the perfect shot, landing a high-profile broadcast mention, or crafting the most compelling article or social post. It’s about the relationships we build throughout the Games—because when you truly connect with an athlete, that’s when the magic happens.
It happens when an athlete stops smiling for the camera, and starts smiling at you.
It happens when one interview leads to another, and suddenly members of the team are seeking you out—not just for their own moment in the spotlight, but because they want to introduce you to the people who matter most in their lives.
It happens when an interview shifts from a series of questions to a conversation in the stands—when you’re sitting beside an athlete after a race, hands clasped, still catching their breath as you cheer together for their teammate in the next event.
Being behind the scenes is a privilege I never take for granted. We’re there in the moments that define an athlete’s journey—their challenges, their heartbreaks, their triumphs.
We walk with them into the Opening Ceremony, standing alongside them as their arms rise and their eyes widen, taking in the sheer magnitude of the moment—the thousands of people on their feet, the roar of celebration, the realization that this is their moment.
We’re there when they truly see, for the first time, the size and scale of the movement that stands behind them.
We’re there as they prepare a speech, offering support as they work through nerves and emotion, searching for the right words to tell their story—only for us to tear up alongside them when they do.
We sit with them as they navigate pre-race jitters with their Mental Performance Lead, listening as they process their emotions, trusting us to capture their vulnerability with care, respect, and celebration.
We’re there when a media interview becomes something more—when a journalist and their crew, expecting a quick soundbite, find themselves captivated as an athlete delivers what can only be described as a TED Talk on the power of sport to change lives.
We’re there in the hardest moments, too. When an athlete gets injured, when the Team Doctor is patching them up, and we quietly lift our camera—only to have a hand reach back out to us for reassurance. And because we’ve built that trust, we’re able to capture those moments as well— not just the highlights, but the strength and resilience they’ve spent a lifetime building.
These are the stories that don’t always make headlines, but stay with you long after the Games end.
Because at its heart, this isn’t about creating content. It’s about bearing witness.
And there is no greater honour than telling the story of this team.
