Abu Dhabi will be athletes’home from home
The entire Team GB Special Olympics sailing squad for the World Summer Games will be made up of athletes training in Renfrewshire.
They are Lewis Nicholson, Paisley; Michael Kelly, Paisley; Jamie Kearns, Clydebank; Shannon McGhee, Clydebank; Laura Carrick, Helensburgh and Darren MacGregor, Glasgow.
They will travel together to Abu Dhabi as part of a delegation of 129 athletes set to represent Great Britain in March 2019.
The super six train at Castle Semple, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and this will form their base for their preparations for the United Arab Emirates Games.
Johnstone South and Elderslie councillor Andy Steel, chair of the Clyde Muirshiel Joint Committee, said: “It is a fantastic honour for these athletes to be chosen to represent Team SOGB at the World Games and this comes after a fantastic performance in Sheffield where they won two silvers and a bronze.
“We’re extremely proud that these young people are training and learning at the top class accessible facilities we have at Castle Semple and we will do all we can to facilitate them as they prepare to face the best athletes from across the world.”
The Special Olympics World Summer Games is the biggest global event for athletes with intellectual disabilities and takes place every four years.
Team SOGB are one of 168 countries taking part and around 7,000 athletes from around the globe will compete in 24 different sports.
A full list of those selected for Team SOGB can be found at www. specialolympicsgb.org.uk