Introduction
Thank you very much for your kind invitation to be your guest at this ‘Meet the People’ event, part of the County Roscommon ‘Support an Athlete Campaign’ for the Special Olympics.
2003 Special Olympic Games
As we all know, it is four years since the Special Olympics World Games were held here in Ireland and that event still remains one of the highlights of recent years for me. We all have great memories of the Games in June 2003 and the event captured a very special time in the history of this country.
The Games might only be a glowing memory but they have left behind a lasting legacy for people with a learning disability and their families in Ireland. I think we clearly showed that the spirit of volunteerism and organisation is alive and well in this country and we must work hard to protect and enhance this.
I know that since the Games in 2003, Special Olympics has introduced a further 4,000 people with a learning disability to the joy and benefits of participation in sport. 11,000 athletes now participate in Special Olympics Ireland, representing 33% of all people with a learning disability on this island. I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to Mary Davis, the staff and everyone involved in Special Olympics Ireland who have continued to work tirelessly to develop their programme and to get more and more people involved.
Support an Athlete campaign 2007
However, there are still 23,000 other people who have yet to benefit from participation in sport and that is why we are here today. It is very important to continue to grow the Special Olympics programme so that more people with a learning disability have an opportunity to participate in sport.
Through the “Support an Athlete” campaign, Special Olympics Ireland is hoping to:
· Recruit new athletes and volunteers;
· Support and develop the existing programme; and
· Prepare and train the team for the 2007 Special Olympics Summer Games in China.
The Government announced a €2 million grant in the Budget to help Special Olympics Ireland with this ambitious programme. I would encourage members of the public and the business world to also support this work in whatever way they can.
National Disability Strategy
I believe the Government has made significant progress in the Disability services in recent years through the National Disability Strategy.
The Strategy has expanded investment in the range of services and supports available to persons with disabilities, with the areas of health and education being to the forefront. We have also committed to a five-year multi-annual investment programme to run until 2009 worth
€900 million, targeted at high priority disability support services. I also accept that many areas still need improvement and we will work towards that.
However, the State will never be able to generate the enthusiasm and energy of Special Olympics on its own. That is why voluntary effort remains so important to Irish society.
And so, it is great to see that so many sports stars and other personalities are pledging to support this campaign in their local counties. For many young people, sports stars are role models and their involvement is very important.
We must also acknowledge the continued support of all the sponsors, which has been crucial to the development of Special Olympics Ireland in recent years.
Conclusion
I know that here in Roscommon you are particularly enthusiastic in your fundraising for the ‘Support and Athlete’ campaign. This is clear from the range of activities organised to take place between this and the end of April to help raise valuable funds for Special Olympics Ireland and to send Roscommon’s Special Olympic athletes to this year’s games in Shanghai. I wish you particular luck with your ’60 minutes for the Special Olympics’ initiative, also taking place today, which is asking workers to donate one hour’s salary to this great cause.
You are rightly very proud of the 100 athletes here in County Roscommon who are currently participating in a whole host of sports, as well as those who will be going forward to represent both Roscommon and Ireland in Shanghai. Special mention must go to Bernadette Carr from Roscommon Town and James Glover from Strokestown who are here today and who will be representing Ireland at the 2007 World Games. Both Bernadette and James play football and they will be joined in Shanghai by Emma Finneran from Taughmaconnell who also plays football, but could not be with us today. Congratulations to all three athletes on their success to date and the best of luck to them in China. I am sure that they will live up to the Special Olympic Athletes’ Oath: ‘Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt’.
Thanks to Deirdre Kelly for all her good work and congratulations to everyone here in Roscommon on all your fundraising efforts to date. I wish you every success with the rest of your campaign. Thank you for your attention.
ENDS