Special Olympics World Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles from the 25th July to 02nd Aug 2015.
These Games will see 7,000 Special Olympics’ athletes from 177 different countries compete in 25 sporting events over the duration of the Games and is set to be the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games!
We are delighted that Team Ireland will be there too! Our delegation will be made up of 88 Irish athletes, 40 management team including coaches and nearly 200 Irish volunteers who will all be heading to Los Angeles.
The 88 athletes come from 24 counties, North and South and in Los Angeles they will be fighting the Irish cause in 12 sports out of the 25 ‘on offer’.
- Aquatics
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baskeball
- Bocce
- Bowling
- Equestrian
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Kayaking
- Table Tennis
Special Olympics Ireland’s C.E.O Matt English spoke at the launch of the fund which looks for at least €440,000 towards the cost of the team and officials. He welcomes contributions, large or small,
from companies as well as from individuals.
““Each athlete has shown great motivation, discipline and tremendous skill in getting this far and it is worthy of real celebration.
“I know the entire country will be cheering on Team Ireland in July and August.”
Paying tribute to companies and businesses throughout the land and among the Irish abroad, he went on:
“We still have a way to go to reach our target and I really would encourage as many companies as possible to get behind Team Ireland.
“It also goes without saying that the commitments from our ongoing partners… are helping to ensure that our athletes get to realise their dreams and demonstrate to their world their extraordinary and inspiring talents.”
Irish football captain and LA Galaxy star Robbie Keane and his wife Claudine are ambassadors for Team Ireland and have called on the business community to join the Support an Athlete Campaign.
You can also donate to this special cause via the Special Olympics Ireland Facebook and Twitter accounts or indeed online at :www.specialolympics.ie
Full details of Special Olympics Ireland Support An Athlete campaign- and more detailed information about events around the country, can also be found at:
Meantime Liam Neeson introduces this video on behalf of Special Olympics Ireland and Irish Sports Council – well worth watching and a tribute to all those athletes,their family and friends.