South Dublin County Council and Special Olympics Ireland celebrate 30 Years Changing Lives

Issued 19/09/08

South Dublin County Council and Special Olympics Ireland celebrate 30 Years Changing Lives

A very special event will take place on Sunday the 28^th of September 2008 in Clondalkin Leisure Centre, hosted by Mayor Maire Corr & South Dublin County Council to celebrate the 30^th 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.

Joining the staff and representatives of South Dublin County Council to celebrate this special milestone is Mr George Hook,and most importantly representatives of 19 Special Olympic clubs in the county, their leaders and the many volunteers from around South Dublin County.

The opening ceremony; will comprise of the lighting of the Olympic flame; followed by a fantastic gymnastics display performed by South Dublin Sports Club. Other activities will include, bouncy castles, face painters, live performance by Superfly, fun and Games and much much more

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.

A spokesperson for Special Olympics Ireland said South Dublin County Councils 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 Irelands 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.

South Dublin County Council is pleased to assist the Special Olympics over the years and looks forward to continued co-operation and hope that all our athletes and their families will enjoy a great day of celebration with us.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Alison Silke

Sports & Recreation Officer. South Dublin County Council

01 4149270

asilke@sdublincoco.ie

or

Anne-Marie Butler

Special Olympics Ireland

01 8691711

annemarie.butler@specialolympics.ie