Special Olympics Ireland and Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough celebrate 30 Years Changing Lives
Publish Date: Thursday, 11 September 2008
A very special event took place on Wednesday 10th September in Dungannon Leisure Centre hosted by Mayor of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Cllr The Lord Morrow MLA of Clogher Valley to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics in Ireland.
Special Olympics Ireland is commemorating and thanking all communities for their support during the last three decades under the theme '30 Years Changing Lives'. Across Ireland, local government, religious groups, schools, sports organisations and other local agencies have engaged in this very special occasion and are hosting events in their local community that will bring together all strands of that community and make the event as participatory and inclusive as possible for everyone in the locality.
In July 1978 the charity commissions sealed the Scheme of Incorporation that legally established Special Olympics Ireland. Since then Special Olympics Ireland has played a very important role in the lives of so many families involved in the programme. We can look back with pride at the achievements of the organisation - the opportunities, the growth, the training, the competition, the transformative power of Special Olympics as the single most powerful vehicle for changing attitudes and promoting acceptance for those with an intellectual disability.
The special event in Dungannon Leisure Centre was attending by over 150 people many of whom are local special Olympic athletes from the area. The event compere was Harry McGuigan. Harry has coached Olympic athletes and is himself a world champion and expert in Judo. The Highlight of the evening was the Special Olympics Torch parade, all athletes in attendance paraded through the main hall in the Leisure Centre behind the special Olympic Torch to the beat of the Murley Silver Band who provide musical entertainment on the evening. A DVD was also played to reflect on 30 years of Special Olympics Ireland.
Special Olympics Ireland is an organsiation with 11,000 athletes participating in 12 sports in 409 clubs supported by18,000 volunteers across the island of Ireland, week in week out. This makes Special Olympics Ireland one of Ireland's largest community and voluntary organisations and reaches 33% of the 34,000 people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. In addition to providing sports training and competition, Special Olympics Ireland also incorporates the Athlete Leadership Programme (ALPs), the Family Support Programme, Healthy Athlete and Volunteer Programme to name but a few.
At the event [insert name of SOI speaker] said "Your contribution to the success of Special Olympics has never gone unnoticed and we want to mark and celebrate and acknowledge this contribution. For 30 years Special Olympics Ireland's aim has been to provide more sports opportunities for people with a learning disability in their own communities. This has been largely achieved thanks to the dedication and support of all of you here today; our volunteers, coaches and partners in each community. Special Olympics Ireland would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all those involved in the growth of its organisation."
Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone Cllr The Lord Morrow MLA of Clogher Valley was proud to be hosting this event:
'The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough is rife with dedicated and committed athletes, and I am proud to have them here this evening to share this wonderful experience and celebrate 30 years of Special Olympics Ireland. Praise must be given to the work of Special Olympics Ireland Programme and the families who provide support and opportunities to these athletes. This programme provides an outlet for people with disabilities, a chance to travel, meet new people and compete in their beloved sport'.
Under the Special Olympics Ireland Strategy 2008-2011, the organisation aims to grow the participation at local level and ensure that quality programmes are available in every community to all athletes, as well as potential athletes, volunteers, coaches and families. By 2011 Special Olympics Ireland will have engaged with more people with a learning disability so that they have the opportunity to play a full role in their own community.
