Ireland made their first appearance at the
Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, taking part in the Opening
Ceremony’s official athletes’ parade, led out by Irish representatives
including Brendan Whelan, Chairman for Special Olympics Ireland and Shane Ross,
Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
91 athletes representing Ireland travelled
to Abu Dhabi to compete on a world stage at the Special Olympics World Summer
Games 2019. A
team of 39 management volunteers also travelled with the athletes. The Games officially launched tonight
(Thursday 14 March) at a star-studded Opening Ceremony at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium, the
largest stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
The event saw several international celebrities making the trip to Abu Dhabi
to show their support for Special Olympics athletes including global ambassador,
Nicole Scherzinger and Avril Lavigne, who took to the stage with a performance
of her song, ‘Fly’. The ‘Flame of Hope’
also completed its final journey into the iconic Zayed Sports City stadium, lighting
the cauldron to mark the official opening of the World Games.
Tim
Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics delivered a rousing speech at the Opening
Ceremony.Opening his address to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, Shriver said: “In
a world of tension and division you are a ripple of compassion, a wave of
compassion.”
He went on
to deliver a passionate address to athletes from 200 countries:
“In this, the 50th year of the
Special Olympics movement, the athletes are here to say that they are the
prophets of tolerance, the prophets of compassion, the prophets of a whole new
world where everybody gets a chance, where everybody belongs, where everybody
contributes and where everybody is on the playing field of life.
“You have
won the most important race already; yes you will compete, and yes you will
prove yourselves and yes, you will take home medals but please know, by your
open hearts and freedom, you have already changed the course of history; by
your competitive spirit, you have already changed the face of sport; and by
marshalling the energies of love and sharing them with us all, you have already won the gold medals.”
Team Ireland volunteer Philomena O’Hare was
given the privilege of reading the Officials’ Oath on behalf of all judges and
officials attending the Games.
Philomena, a member of Navan Arch Club in Meath, competed at the 2015
World Summer Games in Los Angeles and has joined the team in Abu Dhabi as a
Table Official for this year’s basketball events.
Matt English, CEO
Special Olympics Ireland, said Special Olympics Ireland was thrilled to have
such fantastic support for the Irish athletes in the parade. He said: “Special Olympics Ireland has always relied on the
support of friends across many different spectrums. We are proud to have such support
for Special Olympics here in Abu Dhabi, including the Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport who
has taken the time to join us in support of our athletes.
“This support is
hugely important to both the organisation and our athletes and I would like to
the Minister on behalf of everyone at Special Olympics Ireland.
"We are filled with pride to see so
many Irish athletes beginning their World Games journey. For many of our
athletes, this is their first time competing on an international stage and we
encourage everyone back home to get behind them and lend their support as the
Games get under way.”
The World Games will
run until 21 March 2019.Team Ireland will compete in 12 different Olympic style sports. Their
selection comes after four years of training and competition, and over 350
family members have made the trip to support the athletes in their endeavours.
To keep
up to date with Team Ireland’s preparations for the Special Olympics World
Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, follow Special Olympics Ireland on Twitter, @SOIreland and Facebook, facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsIreland and follow the hashtags, #TeamIreland
and #PlayYourPart.
