WITH just hours to go before the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Special Olympics, Limerick is ready to welcome the games with open arms and showcase the city and its facilities to a wide audience. The countdown is almost over and the preparation work in getting the accommodation villages at the University of Limerick ready for the 2,100 participants who will take part in the 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games is almost completed.
With almost 10,000 people expected to descend in Limerick this week the staff at Campus Life Services, University of Limerick are putting the final touches to the plans for one of the highest profile events to take place in Limerick in a very long time.
The University of Limerick will accommodate the sporting athletes in the 5 student residences located on the campus. Over the last number of weeks over 50 housekeepers, reception and maintenance staff along with the village management teams have focused all their efforts on getting the houses and apartments ready for this show case event.
“We require 2,100 duvets, sheets and pillows, 8,400 pieces of cutlery, 6,300 pieces of delft, 4,200 cups and glasses for the village kitchens. The staff were busy cleaning, shining and placing all these items in the villages since the students moved out at the end of May” stated Ellen Fitzmaurice, Campus Life Services, University of Limerick.
Catering for the participants, coaches, families and friends is no easy task and the two main campus catering companies Aramark/Campbell Catering and Castle Oaks Catering are putting the final touches to the menus which will be served each night. The two catering companies will provide dinner for approx 2,500 people every night.
According to Linda Stevens, Director, Campus Life Services, University of Limerick “our on-campus accommodation, catering facilities as well as our state-of-the-art sports facilities have allowed us to turn our campus into an Olympic Village. All of these fantastic services along with our on-site Conference and Events team will ensure the athletes have the best
experience possible while they visit Limerick”.
It is an extremely busy time for the entire team at Campus Life Services, UL and they are very excited about welcoming the athletes to the University and wish them all the best of luck.
