American delegate praises opening ceremony

THE Dublin extravaganza in Croke Park has left the organisers of next year’s Olympic Games in Athens with a very difficult act to follow when they create their Opening Ceremony according to a leading Special Olympics official.

Jacky Loube, technical delegate for basketball, who supervises the divisional process, approves the venues and ensures fair play amongst the competing nations, is in Ireland for his fifth Special Olympic World Games and described the opening ceremony as breathtaking.

"We try to create parity among the teams so that the event is a successful event and the athletes build and create self esteem rather than having a win at all costs type of situation.

"We simply like to ensure that the event, both socially and athletically, is a meaningful event for all participants," is how he describes his mission.

He said that over the years, he and his colleagues have been able to develop a process of analysing the skills of each of the athletes; whether or not they dribble; whether or not they can run the floor; how they shoot; how they play defence. They then give each individual a score during the divisioning process in order to get as close as possible to parity.

He was full of praise for the facilities at the ESB Arena, at the UCD Arena and at Loughlinstown and the modifications which have been undertaken in recent months and insisted they had done a marvellous job with all of the venues.

"This is my fifth world games and the participation of the volunteers is truly commendable. This is the first time the Games have been held outside of the US and I would say that the opening ceremony was a model for any country that hosts the Games in the future.

"Even the Olympics in Athens are going to have review their model because this will be very difficult to even be comparable to.

"My association with Ireland began a couple of years ago when I met with the Games organising committee and the chair people who were assigned to my particular sport. They have been the easiest people in the world to get along with. They have co-ordinated things very well and there is a friendship that has been developing which will be long lasting."

His involvement began when he was doing a clinic for Special Olympics in Washington. An observer from Special Olympics International was watching from the stands and invited him to become a technical delegate.

"Within a couple of weeks I received a letter from Special Olympics appointing me their Technical Delegate and the rest is history," he said. "I have seen the expansion of Special Olympics basketball and I have said in Loughlinstown that the competition amongst the women is the highest level of competition that I have seen in the last three world games.

"It is extraordinary the way the countries have developed the women's programme. I am very proud of that accomplishment."