How disabled people benefit from Special Olympics

IN response to your feature article headlined ‘Special Needs Simply Not Met’ (June 23), your reporter referred to the 2003 World Summer Games and inferred that people with intellectual disabilities have not benefited from the legacy of the event.

Special Olympics Ireland is a year-round sports training and competition programme for people with a learning disability.

Since the games in 2003, Special Olympics Ireland has worked incredibly hard to reinforce this message so as to change attitudes towards our athletes, to highlight their successes and to engage more athletes, families and volunteers.

In 2007 alone, 1,060 new athletes joined the organisation and 2,060 new volunteers enrolled.

We have doubled the number of people with an intellectual disability participating in regular sports training and competition since 2000, all of whom are reaping the benefits of increased fitness, confidence and skills. There are 18,000 volunteers delivering the Special Olympics programme of 12 sports in more than over 420 clubs across Ireland. It is a testament to the faith and pride of Irish people who make the Special Olympics Ireland programme happen, day in and day out, in every county.

There are issues regarding funding and provision of services for people with disabilities in Ireland and there is a long way to go in implementing the Disabilities Bill.

However, it is our experience that attitudes towards people with an intellectual disability have been changed and this has helped such issues to be brought to the top of the political and social agenda.

This year Special Olympics Ireland celebrates 30 years changing lives.

Participation in Special Olympics enables athletes to be full and equal members of society. Over the next four years, Special Olympics Ireland’s strategy seeks to consolidate and build on the work done since 2003 so that more people with a learning disability can demonstrate their abilities and be proud of their accomplishments.

This can only be done with the ongoing support of communities, policymakers, fundraisers, volunteers, families of people with intellectual disabilities, service providers and clubs.

We urge any person with an intellectual disability who has not yet benefited from participating in sport to get in touch with their local Special Olympics club or contact Special Olympics Ireland on 01 8823753 or visit www.specialolympics.ie

Frances Kavanagh

Acting CEO

Special Olympics Ireland

Park House

North Circular Road

Dublin 7