By Special Olympics Ireland on 29/09/2011 10:19
President McAleese invited the athletes and their coaches to Áras an Uachtaráin to personally congratulate them on their wonderful achievements at the Games in June and for representing us all so well on the international sporting stage.
Addressing the assembled gathering of athletes and coaches President McAleese said “To get to the World Summer Games is itself a brilliant achievement and experience and I hope you all really enjoyed every minute of it, but of course it was no holiday and the months of training and preparation before hand took a lot of effort and organisation. So well done to you and to all the people who keep Special Olympics going at home all year round so that people can know the fun and fulfilment of taking part in sports, making friends, winning and losing, getting fit, getting really good at your sport and getting so good that you are chosen to represent your country”.
Matt English, CEO Special Olympics Ireland said “Being invited to Áras an Uachtaráin as guests of President McAleese is a great honour for our athletes and coaches. The group here today represents not only the 126 athletes who competed at the World Games but also the 11,000 athletes who participate in the Special Olympics programme of sports training and competition throughout the island of Ireland every week. On behalf of everyone involved in Special Olympics Ireland I would like to extend my gratitude to President McAleese for her unwavering support during the course of her Presidency”.
Team Ireland, which comprised of 126 athletes and a management team of 49, had an outstanding performance at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, recording a number of personal best records and winning a total of 107 Medals (31 Gold, 44 Silver and 32 Bronze) as well as dozens of place ribbons in 12 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Equestrian, Football (5 aside Male; 5 aside Female & 11 aside Male), Golf, Gymnastics, Kayaking and Table-Tennis.