After waking in the dark, early hours of Saturday morning, SUMBA journeyed to Sydney International Airport to welcome home 101 athletes and 35 support staff returning from the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. By all measures it was a successful Games for Team Australia, returning with 141 medals and many more personal best performances and memories. SUMBA trumpeted, clarineted and saxophoned their return with triumphant renditions of “We Are the Champions”, upbeat “I Want You Back” and crowd favourites “Sweet Caroline”, “YMCA” and “Twist and Shout”. SUMBAs unofficial anthem “Oye Como Va” also saw plenty of stage time, and the surprise inclusion of “25 or 6 to 4” kept our musicians on their toes. The athletes and their friends, family and supporters all appreciated the musical addition to the Welcome Home, with plenty of feet tapping and more than a few hands in the air swaying along to the beat. We finished off with some fresh, homemade raspberry and white chocolate muffins, and left the airport before most people had awoken. A great start to SUMBA’s 2019 performance schedule!!
SUMBA would like to thank Special Olympics Australia for inviting us to perform, Sydney Airport for hosting us, and The University of Sydney Union (USU) for their continued support.
