Town Council honours Special Olympics Ireland"s 30th anniversary

A special event took place on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 in Belvedere House, hosted by Mullingar Town Council to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics in Ireland.Among those who attended the event in Belvedere House, were people involved in Special Olympics in the Mullingar Area, volunteers, athletes, mothers, fathers, families, as well as public representatives, schools, Garda Siochana, Army, Special Olympics Ireland representatives.The Olympic Torch was led into the venue by the Gardai and Special Olympic Athletes. Noel Battle and company provided some great traditional music and some ballad singing was provided by Catherine Nea, Maeve Corroon and Katie McCarthy.In addition, an inspirational DVD celebrating 30 years of Special Olympics in Ireland was played throughout the event.A special appearance was made by Tomas O"Flathartha, trainer to the Westmeath Senior Football Team, who spoke about the importance of sport in young people"s lives. Mary Davis, the CEO of Special Olympics Ireland also addressed the gathering, as did Special Olympics athlete, Peter Oxley.A special presentation of a commemorative Children of Lir piece of Genesis was made to the Special Olympic athletes who competed and who won medals in the Special Olympic Games held in Shanghai, China in 2007. These presentations were made by the Cathaoirleach of Mullingar Town Council, Cllr.Michael Dollard.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 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. According to those involved, the transformative power of Special Olympics as the single most powerful vehicle for changing attitudes and promoting acceptance for those with an intellectual disability.Special Olympics Ireland has 11,000 athletes participating in 12 sports in 409 clubs supported by 18,000 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, Mary Davis 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.'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.