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17th November 2003 SPECIAL OLYMPICS IRELAND LAUNCHES MAJOR NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE – THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS NETWORK – AS A LEGACY TO WORLD GAMES Bank of Ireland invests €1 million to support programmeFour months after the conclusion of the Special Olympics World Games last June a major nationwide initiative has been launched by Special Olympics Ireland to build on the huge wave of support there was for the Games in the 160 Host Towns and from the 30,000 volunteers that worked prior to and during the Games. The initiative is being called the Special Olympics Network and Special Olympics Ireland plans to set up support groups in towns and villages throughout the country with the purpose of nurturing the establishment of new Special Olympics clubs in areas not previously served by a club and supporting the development of existing clubs including those clubs currently facilitated by schools and centres. The initiative was formally launched at a reception in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre today (17thNovember) by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D. “The World Games was a wonderful success but now it is time to move on and look at ways to build on what was achieved last June. I congratulate everyone associated with this initiative and encourage those who were volunteers or indeed spectators at the World Games to get involved so that we can truly create a lasting legacy for people with a learning disability” he said. The Special Olympics Network is being supported and sponsored by Bank of Ireland, Premier Sponsor of the World Games last June. Bank of Ireland is to donate €1 million over two years to support its development and implementation. In addition to its cash contribution, Bank of Ireland will leverage the power of its national network of offices and staff, which played a central role in the World Games and, particularly, in the organisation and management of the Host Town Programme. “There are over 34,000 people with a learning disability in Ireland and presently only 8,000 of them are currently actively involved with Special Olympics. This is a tremendous boost to Special Olympics in Ireland. Without the support of companies like Bank of Ireland and our long time partners eircom, we would not be in a position to undertake such an ambitious programme” said Cyril Freaney, Chairman, Special Olympics Ireland “If the World Games taught us anything, it was that when given the opportunity people with a learning disability can make a real contribution to our society. Special Olympics can and does play a part in that process. Our objective is that by 2007, we will have 20,000 people with a learning disability taking part regularly in Special Olympics training and competition programmes” he added. To coincide with the launch of the Special Olympics Network, Special Olympics Ireland announced a new theme to follow on from the highly successful Share the Feeling theme of the World Games. A Place for Everyone! is the new theme and underpins Special Olympics Ireland’s commitment to offer more opportunities for athletes, families, volunteers and sponsors in ensuring that every person with a disability in Ireland will have an opportunity to become a Special Olympics athlete. The Special Olympics Network will be organised on a regional basis with each region assessing local needs and encouraging existing sports facilities to cater for Special Olympics athletes and, where necessary, develop new facilities. The Network will recruit support and assistance from the many thousands of Irish people who were central to the success of the 2003 World Games, many of whom have been campaigning for opportunities to remain involved with the Special Olympics movement. Speaking at the launch, Mike Soden, Group Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland said “In the aftermath of the World Games, it was very clear to us that we must remain involved with the Special Olympics movement. Our staff and our customers alike were caught up in the excitement and the emotion of the Games and everyone could see the life enhancing potential of Special Olympics. Since June, we have been focused on a suitable ongoing sponsorship that would deliver tangible benefits for people with a learning disability” Starting immediately Special Olympics Ireland is embarking on an extensive programme of local meetings in cities, towns and villages throughout the country to outline how the Special Olympics Network will work and how individuals can become involved. Since the World Games concluded, over 5,000 people have called Special Olympics Ireland indicating that they would like to stay involved. ENDS For further information, contact Fleishman-Hillard Saunders Special Olympics Details of Regional Launches:
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