‘I think there is no doubt that we will be back in Limerick’

THE Special Olympics Ireland Games will return to Limerick again.
That was the promise of Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland this Monday morning after the 2010 games was declared the “best yet”.
“It would be a most difficult decision not to return to Limerick,” the CEO told Leader Sport after the hugely successful games came to an end in Limerick.
The 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games started last Wednesday night when 15,000 attended a spectacular opening ceremony in Thomond Park and came to a close yesterday in UL after 1,900 athletes had competed over four days.
“We like to give the opportunity to other cities to host our games, but Limerick has made it a very difficult decision for us,” he said in praise of the host city.
“I think there is no doubt that we will be back to Limerick again - the last few days made a very strong case for that. I have spoke to so many athletes, their families and their friends and they are all gone back home with very positive memories of Limerick,” said English.
“There were people at the games from all 32 counties - athletes, their families and friends and all of them have memories that they will treasure for the rest of their lives. When we set out on these games we had hoped that they would be fantastic.
“They have been fantastic, they have been amazing and more importantly they have been a celebration of true sporting achievement. I would like to thank the people of Limerick, our sponsors, particularly Eircom, the volunteers and especially the athletes for making these games the extraordinary experience they have been for everyone,” he said.
“My from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all the athletes and everyone involved with Special Olympics Ireland I want to say a big thank you to everyone in Limerick that helped us to host these Games. I know that the family and friends, who travelled to Limerick, were blown away with the facilities and by Limerick.”
He added: “It was an absolutely fantastic Special Olympics Games.
“We felt that it would be from the beginning and that is the way it turned out.
“We are absolutely thrilled with everything. I want to thank everyone for all their help - all the volunteers and those who helped to raise the money needed.”
More than 1,900 athletes representing every county in Ireland took part in the games which included 13 different sports such as athletics, swimming, soccer, basketball, golf and gymnastics.
“The family members who came here had a fantastic time, the athletes were treated like true professionals - which they deserve as they have been training so hard for the last four years and the facilities here have been world-class,” said English.
The CEO was full of praise for UL, which formed the centrepiece of the Games, but stressed that all other venues “went off without a hitch”.
“I don’t like to single out any because they were all brilliant. But just look at Glenside Pitch and Putt out in Murroe. To see the whole community getting involved would really pull at your heart strings,” he said.
The CEO added that it is his wish that the Special Olympics Games would leave a legacy in Limerick.
“We had volunteers from nearly every county in Ireland, but we were delighted with the response from Limerick.
“I met so many of them volunteers and hopefully they will cherish their role and maybe some of them will go on and help with Special Olympics clubs or even help to set up new clubs around Limerick.”

JEROME O’CONNELL