Special Olympics
By Eugene Byrne

Despite the best efforts of the Minister for Health in just under two weeks the most momentous sporting event ever to be held in Ireland, the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games will kick off in spectacular fashion with an exciting opening ceremony in Dublin's Croke Park. For the best part of a year the people of Ireland have been making preparations for this event to accord the participants the welcome they deserve. June will see the eyes of the world on Ireland as 8,000 athletes and coaches from over 160 international delegations, 28.000 family members and friends, 2,000 members of the international media and 500,000 spectators enjoy the spectacle of the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Never before has Ireland played host to such a large event on the international stage. This will be a fantastic event that will bring together people throughout Ireland of all ages, from all backgrounds in a celebration of sport and true sportsmanship. The Special Olympics is an international, year round programme of sporting competition for individuals with a learning disability. It was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Recognising that sport could provide people with a learning disability a means to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Children and adults with learning disabilities participate in the Special Olympics to develop and improve physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

This will be the first time this major event will take place outside the USA, and it will be one of the biggest international sporting occasions of the year. The legacy the games leave will be enormous as the thousands of athletes participate in 18 official sports and three demonstration sports in 22 venues throughout the greater Dublin area and in Northern Ireland, including Morton Stadium, the ESB arena, the RDS, Phoenix Park and the King's Hall Belfast.

The whole of Ireland will be involved in these events with 160 communities involved through the host town programme, thousands of primary and secondary school children taking part in the school enrichment programme, 30,000 volunteers from all ages (above 16) and many families throughout Dublin accommodating families of athletes in the Host a Family programme. The Host Town programme will see the athletes and coaches spend the four days prior to the competition in an Irish Host town around the island of Ireland. Over 160 communities will welcome delegations from across the world and give them an opportunity to train, acclimatize and enjoy the Irish culture prior to competition. These towns and villages have been busy planning and preparing for the arrival of the delegations, raising money through pub quiz and similar functions to make sure that their towns live up to expectations.

Although the Bank of Ireland will support Host Towns with some financial aid, the bulk of the work on preparation is left to the townsfolk themselves. Special Olympics is a volunteer led movement that relies on the hard work of individuals and communities through a combination of fundraising and in-kind sponsorship to make events like this possible. What a pity that the good record of Ireland was in some way marred by the incentive action of the Minister for Health in asking countries affected by the SARS epidemic not to send their delegations.
After nine days of competition the games will close with a closing ceremony in Croke Park where it all began on the 21st of June with the arrival of the Flame of Hope torch into the stadium on it's final destination from around Europe. R.T.E. as one of the main sponsors will give plenty of coverage over the nine days of competition affording those of us who can’t attend any of the events the opportunity to watch them from our own living rooms.

Back to Contents