Olympians meet the Provost
Forth Valley’s Special OlympicsWorld Games athletes met up with Stirling Provost Mike Robbins.
Shaun Wotton from Stirling City All Stars Football Club and equestrian Lyn Dumbleton will be representing team GB at the Special Olympics World Games.
The event is being held in Los Angeles in the USA this summer from July 25 until August 2.
The pair qualified for the World Games in 2013 at their sports’ national championships and have been committed to training and fundraising for LA every since.
The Games will be the largest sporting event for athletes with an intellectual disability in the world this year.
More than 7000 athletes from 170 countries are expected to compete in the Games and enjoy nine days full of joy and friendship.
The athletes will compete in 28 sports, 21 of which are Olympic type sports.
There will be an estimated 500,000 spectators and around 30,000 volunteers at the event.
Forth Valley Disability Sports branch co-ordinator Graham Harvey said: “Special Olympics around the world has one thing in common - a passionate commitment to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion, accomplishment and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports and forming a new global vision of acceptance.”
Provost Robbins gave the athletes an inspirational talk and wished them the very best of luck for the Games.
Special Olympics Great Britain has a strong GB team competing at the Games comprised of 115 athletes, five unified partners, 19 head coaches, 22 coaches, five support team members and three management.
For more information about the Special Olympics or disability sport within the Forth Valley call FVDS on (01786) 466486 or email: info@fvds.org.uk.