THE stage is set for the 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games, which will see 1,500 athletes compete in venues throughout Limerick city over the week-end.
The Games return to Limerick from June 12 to 15 following their Treaty city success in 2010 and promises to be one of the largest and most prestigious sporting events to take place in the country this year.
It is estimated the 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games, costing €2.4 million to run, will bring in a revenue of about €10 million to the city. Over €1.8m was raised locally for the Games.
The Special Olympics torch arrived in Killaloe this Wednesday morning after its symbolic journey from Northern Ireland. The torch was passed from PSNI officers to members of the Garda Siochana and Special Olympians in a highly significant ceremony.
Special Olympics Ireland, which offers year-round sports training to people with an intellectual disability, is now calling on the people of Limerick to come out in force this weekend to show their support and make the 2014 Games a great success.
Chairperson of the Special Olympics’ Leadership Council, Ralph Parkes commented, “I would implore all the people of Limerick to come out onto O’Connell Street for the opening ceremony and the torch run this Thursday at 6pm and get behind all the athletes in UL this weekend too.”
“This is proper sport in its purest form. There is no politics, it is just beautiful. If an artist wanted to portray sport at its best, then Limerick is the place to see it this weekend. If you ever wondered what it’s like to win an Olympic medal this is your chance to come and witness it firsthand,” said Mr Parkes.
The 1,500 Special Olympians descended on the city earlier this week accompanied by their 500 coaches and official delegates as well as a contingent of over 3,000 family members. Almost 3,000 volunteers, recruited from Limerick and surrounding counties, have also been mobilised and are busy training and implementing plans to ensure that these are the best Games yet. Such was the response from the people of Limerick to a call for volunteers earlier this year, that a further 2,000 people were left disappointed.
Athletes will compete in 13 sports in venues throughout Limerick this weekend. As well as being the main residential centre, the University of Limerick will host the athletics, aquatics, basketball, football, gymnastics, kayaking competitions and the non-competitive motor activities training programme.
“This is a life-affirming moment for these athletes. They have not always fit in and this is their moment to explode through sport,” Mr Parkes concluded.
