A FEELING SHARED’

Release of Special Olympics Opening Ceremony
Commemorative Video & DVD Announced

 

RTÉ and Tyrone Productions today (Thursday 27^th November) announced the release of a double video and DVD of the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.  This very special commemorative package, available nationwide from Saturday (29^th November) also includes the full Parade of Athletes and highlights from the sporting events. 

 

The launch of the DVD coincides with the start of the Special Olympics Network, a new Special Olympics Ireland plan 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 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.

 

The Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games on June 21^st in Croke Park, Dublin, marked the beginning of the largest sporting event in the world in 2003.   The spectacular Ceremony brought together 7,000 athletes from over 160 international delegations to collectively celebrate their achievement at reaching the final of the 2003 World Summer Games.

 

‘A Feeling Shared’ captures the magic of that midsummer’s night and features over 1,700 performers and a stunning line up of celebrities and stars from the worlds of international sport and showbiz including; boxing legend Muhammad Ali, U2, Colin Farrell, Roy Keane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bon Jovi, The Corrs, Samantha Mumba, Ronan Keating and over 100 dancers in the biggest ever performance of Riverdance.  

 

The Athletes themselves are the real stars of the Ceremony. Raising the Special Olympics flag, swearing the Special Olympics Oath, introducing dignitaries and guests and, at the climax of the evening, flanked by the Guard of Honour provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochana, relaying the torch around the arena and lighting the Flame of Hope.

 

For the first time in the 35-year history of the Special Olympics movement the Opening Ceremony was televised live. The broadcast on RTÉ Television was viewed by an audience of over 1.5 million making it the most watched broadcast in Irish television history.

 

‘A Feeling Shared’ with introductions from Timothy Shriver, President and CEO, Special Olympics and Rita Lawlor, Athlete and Board Member of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, is available nationwide on double DVD and Video from Saturday November 29^th priced just €24.95

Proceeds to Special Olympics Ireland