TEAM IRELAND DEPART FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES IN LOS ANGELES
- 88 Team Ireland athletes – including 12 from Ulster – among 7,000 athletes competing at global World Summer Games
- Spectacular Opening Ceremony to be staged at iconic Memorial Coliseum on July 25th
- Team Ireland to compete in 12 Olympic style sports
- World Games run from July 25th to August 2nd
88 Team Ireland athletes – including 12 from Ulster – jetted to Los Angeles today (Tuesday) with dreams of a big performance at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. There was great excitement at Dublin Airport as the athletes boarded their flight to Los Angeles with the team confident of success in their various sports. The athletes were welcomed to the airport by Aer Lingus who are the official airline for Team Ireland.
Speaking at the send-off, Stephen Kavanagh, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Officer wished the team well, saying; “We are very proud to welcome Special Olympics’ Team Ireland on their way to the World Games in Los Angeles. On behalf of Aer Lingus, I would like to extend best wishes to all for an enjoyable and successful Games. We will be supporting these inspiring athletes in their endeavours and look forward to Team Irelands success and a triumphant return.”
This is a massive year for Special Olympics Ireland, with 88 athletes –including 12 from Ulster – preparing to travel to Los Angeles to compete as part of Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Their selection comes after four years of training and competition. A 40-strong coaching and management team will support the athletes in Los Angeles and there will also be 155 Irish volunteers travelling to work at the Games. Over 300 family members are also making the trip to the World Games, which take place in L.A. from 25th July until 2nd August 2015.
Twelve local Special Olympics Ulster athletes will compete in the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) as part of Team Ireland: Christopher Kane, aged 19, from Lisburn and Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 20 from Ballynahinch, Co. Down (5-a side football); Carole Catling, aged 37 from Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim (table tennis); Kirsty Devlin, aged 20 from Belfast and Patrick Quinlivan, aged 32 from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal (gymnastics); Oliver Doherty, aged 38 from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, Jill Connery, aged 29 from Scarva, Co. Armagh & playing partner, Ursula McDonnell, aged 71 from Belfast (all golf); Sarah Jane Johnston, aged 35 from Lurgan, Co. Armagh (aquatics); Déarbháil Savage, aged 14 from Mowhan, Co. Armagh (equestrian); Sean Campbell, aged 30 from Coleraine (ten pin bowling); and Nuala Browne, aged 38 from Strabane, Co. Tyrone (kayaking).
Team Ireland athletes will spend the first few days of their Los Angeles adventure in the city of Downey in southeast Los Angeles County as part of the Host Town programme. On Saturday (July 25th) the 2015 World Summer Games (LA2015) will be officially opened at a star-studded Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics Games, on Saturday July 25th.
The Opening Ceremony will feature performances by Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne and Nicole Scherzinger, with appearances by First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, Jimmy Kimmel, actress Eva Longoria, and Olympic star Michael Phelps, amongst many others. Team Ireland will be led out by Irish Sports Council CEO John Treacy, who won a silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, actor Colin Farrell, and Claudine Keane, wife of football star Robbie Keane.
The World Games run until August 2nd. Team Ireland will compete in 12 different Olympic style sports at the World Games, with a total of 24 counties represented on Team Ireland.
Matt English, CEO Special Olympics Ireland said: “I am so proud of every one of our athletes who will be representing their country and communities at the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles. Each of these athletes has shown great motivation, discipline and tremendous skill in getting this far and it is worthy of real celebration. They are all winners and it is a truly remarkable achievement for all our athletes, their coaches, their families and Special Olympics volunteers.”
The Irish Sports Council, Eircom, convenience retail chain Gala and Sport NI have also pledged funds to help cover the cost of sending Team Ireland to the Games in Los Angeles and their support was also highlighted by Mr English.“It goes without saying that as a charity Special Olympics Ireland relies on the support of corporate partners and statutory sports agency, without whom this Team Ireland journey would not be possible.”
Shaun Cassidy, Regional Director, Special Olympics Ulster said: “It is a real honour for our local athletes to be selected to represent Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games and we feel an immense sense of pride as they depart on this special journey to LA2015. We would encourage people across Ulster to join us and get behind our athletes and the whole of Team Ireland over the next few weeks, sharing their well wishes and messages of support on social media.”
Follow Team Ireland at the World Games:
Twitter: @SOIreland use @SO_Ulster the hashtags, #TeamIreland #LA2015 & #SupportanAthlete
Facebook: Special Olympics Ireland & Special Olympics Ulster
Website: specialolympics.ie
Special Olympics is a year-round sports organisation for athletes with intellectual disabilities and is supported by the Irish Sports Council and Sport NI.
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