9th December 2003
Special commemorative sculpture incorporating all 30,000 Special Olympics World Games Volunteers' names unveiled at Dublin Castle - THANK YOU TO TEAM 2003

 

Teresa Smyth, pictured looking for her name, Teresa volunteered as part of Team 2003 in Event Services in Leisureplex, Blanchardstown (bowling)

A special commemorative sculpture incorporating the names of all 30,000 volunteers who worked at the Special Olympics World Games last June was unveiled by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D. yesterday (8^th December) in the Dubh Linn Garden in Dublin Castle, close to the Chester Beatty Library.  The sculpture was designed by renowned Irish sculpture, John Behan and produced by Cast Bronze Foundry.

“We are grateful to the Government and the Office of Public Works for agreeing to site this sculpture in Dublin Castle” said Denis O’Brien, Chairman, 2003 Special Olympics World Games Organising Committee. “The impact that the World Games had on the lives of people with a disability and indeed on all our lives will be felt for many years to come. We thought it only right that the 30,000 volunteers should be recognised in this way for the magnificent job they did in making the Games such a success. We hope they will come and see this beautiful sculpture and reflect on a great event in our lives” he added.

Many of those 30,000 volunteers have already signed up again to continue their support for Special Olympics. Recently Special Olympics Ireland launched a new initiative – the Special Olympics Network, to encourage and facilitate people to stay or become involved in supporting existing Special Olympics clubs and developing new ones at local level. Meetings are taking place throughout the country at present to outline how people can become involved in the Network.