Games spark a Special response

ORGANISERS of the Special Olympics World Games were overwhelmed by the huge enthusiasm shown by the 20,000 volunteers who turned up for the weekend’s orientation event at the Point Depot in Dublin.

Suzanne Weldon, the Games’ marketing and communications director, described the two-day event as incredible, saying: “We were amazed at the turnout and the enthusiasm shown by volunteers. It also gave us a real sense of the size and scale of the event.”

Catriona Barry, general manager of volunteer services, said they now had no doubt those who had volunteered could be depended on. Work on training and delegating roles to the volunteers, all of whom have been screened by gardaí, is already underway.