University to host Special Olympics event next year
Family and friends will join participants
More than 1000 Special Olympics athletes, plus their coaches and families, will be heading to Stirling next year for a major event.
Stirling University has been chosen as the venue for Special Olympics GB’s anniversary games to be held over four days in August.
The games are being hosted by Special Olympics Scotland and will celebrate both Special Olympics GB’s 40th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the worldwide Special Olympics global movement set up in 1968 by President JF Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Special Olympics GB is the largest registered charity providing yearround sports training and competition opportunities for people with learning disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales, and was founded in 1978.
About 1200 athletes and 400 coaches and officials – drawn from all parts of the UK and some European countries – will be invited to the games.
All athletes and coaches will be accommodated at the university and all the sports, with the exception of golf, will be staged on campus.
An estimated 2500 family members will also attend the games and access to watch all sports will be free to the public.
University principal Gerry McCormac said: “As Scotland’s university for sporting excellence, Stirling is proud to be affiliated with this event, which celebrates the excellent work of the Special Olympics in transforming lives through the joy of sport while striving to end discrimination.
“At Stirling, we’re proud that the work of our staff, students and alumni makes a tangible difference to people’s lives around the world – and that’s clearly a passion we share with Special Olympics.
Stirling-based Olympic medalist and World Champion swimmer Robbie Renwick is also supporting the event. He said: “Participating in sport gave me the best experiences in my life. Putting in hard work and seeing results is a great feeling. Sport brings people together and that’s exactly what Special Olympics does every day for people with learning disability.”
Chief executive officer of Special Olympics GB Karen Wallin said: “We are thrilled Stirling and its university’s excellent facilities will be hosting our very special Anniversary Games in August 2018. This will give more than 1000 Special Olympics athletes the chance to compete in a prestigious games and make new friends and memories.”
Sports to be staged will be boccia, badminton, table tennis, football, swimming, athletics, cycling, golf and netball. There will also be a special ‘play unified’ event in which athletes with and without learning disability will play and compete together.
The games begin on August 9 with an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony on August 12.
Participating in sport gave me the best experiences in my life