A golden opportunity for reflection

When former South African president Nelson Mandela officially opens the Special Olympic World Games in Dublin this evening, it will herald an occasion of remarkable human endeavour and achievement.

The week-long series of events involving more than 7,000 athletes is the biggest sporting event in the world to be held this year, and the first time it will be held outside the United States.

As such, it is an unique honour for this country to be chosen to host such a prestigious tournament, one which will attract global attention to the country for its duration.

It was unfortunate that the run-up to the Games was marred by the outbreak of SARS which compelled the Government to impose a ban on a number of countries, which was subsequently lifted.

That, however, was an embarrassing incident which will now be eclipsed by the successful staging of the Games and the characteristic hospitality extended to the athletes and their supporters by Irish families, north and south of the Border.

The Special Olympics is not about winning medals, but rather an expression of inclusion by those taking part which also recognises their extraordinary achievement in attaining excellence in their preferred sport.

Ireland is very fortunate to be given the opportunity to host the Games, and it is a tribute to those involved in organising them, both the professionals and the legions of volunteers, that every aspect is running smoothly.

The spectacular opening ceremony in Croke Park this evening, which is expected to be attended by about 75,000 people, will be graced by the presence of President Mary McAleese, as well as the founder of the Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Present also will be representatives of the Government and, hopefully, the occasion will give them cause to consider the fact that this country is abjectly negligent in providing facilities for people with special needs.

All too frequently those in largely voluntary organisations concerned with the provision of the special facilities face an almost impenetrable wall of resistance from those at Government level.

The results of a survey commissioned by the international Special Olympics organisation, and published on the eve of the Games in this country, were described as a “wake-up call”.

The president of the Special Olympics, Timothy Shriver, said the results reflected “continuing levels of, at a minimum, ignorance, and in the worst case scenario, prejudice, and I’d almost go so far as to say oppression of people with intellectual disabilities.”

Ireland was one of the nine countries in which the survey was conducted and three-quarters of those questioned said lack of school resources, job training and community services were major obstacles to inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in society.

Celebrating their achievements in the field of sports events is important, but supporting them in the arena of life is more so. In that regard, this country has much ground to make up.