Pemberton praises prestigious Aquatic Centre

TEAM IRELAND’S swimming coach swept an eloquent hand across the glorious spread of the National Aquatic Centre and said: “I’ve been to World Games before, I was in New Haven, in North Carolina and in Connecticut, as basketball coach and I’ve been to Monaco and to Scotland for European Games, but nowhere is there a facility better than this.”

Brenda Pemberton presided over a winning Irish team on the opening day of competition with a special citation, three silver medals and a bronze medal won. "I could not have expected us to do so well" she said.

The focus, of course, was on the athletes but the marvellous setting and facility that is the NAC came in for much praise "The actual pool is perfect and it is of huge benefit," said Brenda. "It's a beautiful facility and it makes me feel very proud as an Irish person.

"It is a huge facility, it's one of the best I've ever been in. The amount of space, the pool area, the changing rooms, all of the changing areas, they are absolutely magnificent and comparable to the best anywhere and much better that many of the facilities I've been in before."

The Irish responded to the lovely setting by logging in the victories Brid Lynch from Templeogue won silver in the 100m backstroke, Karina Houlihan from Glengoole, Thurles, won silver in the 100m backstroke, Tony McManus from Stewart's Hospital, Palmerston, won silver in the 100m backstroke and Tom Ryan of Currana, Golden in Co. Tipperary won bronze in the 100m backstroke.

"She's a great girl" said Tom Lynch, father of 30 years old Brid, "she has two more events to go and that was a great performance, it was her fastest time ever over the distance."

Brid was in North Carolina with Ireland and she won gold, silver and bronze medals "The important thing about SO is not so much the competition" said Tom, "what is more important is the weekly training.

"This is just an event really but the weekly or twice weekly training sessions provides a very essential social outlet, it is a very important part of their social life, that is the real benefit of SO. It is a social outlet for people and an opportunity for them to develop and to show their abilities."

Winner alright then and the last word to Brenda "It's been a huge privilege for us to put them on. Everything has run very well to schedule.

"The organising committee have worked very hard to get the Games together, and from my personal experience of international events it has been a very, very good Games so far."

The biggest international football tournament ever staged in Europe takes place over the next week as an integral part of the Special Olympics.

A total of 81 nations from the five continents will be participating with the 11 a side tournament at the AUL Complex at Clonsaugh and the 5 a side tournament at Belfield, in what is the second largest sport in the games after athletics.

Over the period of the tournament for both men and women, some 200 registered FAI referees will take charge of matches - all on a voluntary basis.

The FAI also provided 36 assessors to grade the matches as the tournament proper gets underway today at both venues.

Sports Commissioner for Football Noel Keneally, the man in charge of all the logistics for the football tournament has attended over 140 preparatory meetings such has the thoroughness of the organisers in the build-up to the tournament.