Sports charity, Special Olympics Ulster launched its 2012-2015 manifesto today, revealing plans for an extensive expansion of its operation across Northern Ireland.
In this leap year, as Special Olympics Ulster begins the first of its four-year cycle working towards the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles in 2015, the charity has set significant targets for growth, aiming to provide more opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to take part in the programme.
Amongst its targets, Special Olympics Ulster has pledged to recruit 100 new athletes per year for the next four years; extend its club network by identifying five new clubs per year; recruit and train 150 new volunteers per year and train 100 coaches per year.
Commenting on the manifesto launch, Shaun Cassidy, regional director, Special Olympics Ulster said:
“In this Olympic year, we are launching a campaign to ‘Fan the Flame’ to keep the Special Olympics message burning brightly in the public eye. We currently support over 2,043 athletes in Ulster, with year-round activities in 97 clubs across the region. Following great successes by our athletes at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens last year, we have begun the first of a four-year programme with local, national and international competitive sporting activities available to our Ulster athletes.
“Our vision is to build the programme offered by Special Olympics UIster so that every person with an intellectual disability has the opportunity, in their local community, to participate in high quality sport and development activities that bring life-changing experiences of increased skills, self-confidence and joy. It’s apt that in this leap year, we are looking forward to the next four years with these significant targets for growth and hope that people will join us in being part of a very special organisation that changes lives every day.”
To coincide with the launch of its 2012-2015 manifesto, a number of leading names from the sport world have joined forces with Special Olympics Ulster as Ambassadors for the charity. Former Ireland international and Ulster rugby player, Simon Best, BBC NI sports reporter, Stephen Watson, Ulster Rugby scrum half Paul Marshall, and a number of Belfast Giants players and are amongst the high-profile names that will help to ‘Fan the Flame’ of the Special Olympics message in 2012 and beyond.
Commenting on his decision to become a Special Olympics Ambassador, former Ireland international and Ulster rugby player, Simon Best said:
“I have had the pleasure of working with Special Olympics Ulster in an informal capacity over the last number of years and have witnessed first-hand the life-changing effects that participation in the programme has had for its athletes. I am delighted to join the charity as an official Ambassador to support and highlight the important work Special Olympics carries out in Ulster and to help them achieve their goals for growth in the next four years.”
BBC NI sports reporter, Stephen Watson added:
“I am delighted to join forces with Special Olympics Ulster as an Ambassador for the charity, which changes the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Northern Ireland through the provision of competitive sporting opportunities at a local, national and international level. Together, we can ‘Fan the Flame’ and keep the Special Olympics spirit and message alive in this Olympic year, and beyond”.
Ulster Rugby scrum Paul Marshall, half said:
“Sport has a very real power to change lives for the better – in my own experience, the opportunity to represent both Ulster and Ireland has had a massive impact in my life. I am proud to join Special Olympics Ulster as an Ambassador – the opportunities they provide for people with intellectual disabilities to compete in sporting activities should be applauded and I would encourage people to support the Special Olympics programme here in Northern Ireland.”
ENDS
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For further information, contact Sinead Doyle, MCE Public Relations on 028 9026 7099 or sinead@mcepublicrelations.com
Caption:
Special Olympics Ulster Manifesto Launch 1, 2 & 3:
New Special Olympics Ulster Ambassadors Paul Marshall, Ulster Rugby Scrum Half, Stephen Watson, BBC NI Sports Reporter and Simon Best, former Ireland international and Ulster rugby player joined Special Olympics Ulster athletes Peter McCord, Lisburn 2gether Special Olympics Club, Una McGarry, Salto Special Olympics club, Belfast and Oliver Magee, Lisburn 2gether Special Olympics Club to launch the Special Olympics Ulster 2012-2015 Manifesto. In this leap year, as Special Olympics Ulster begins the first of its four-year cycle, working towards the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles in 2015, the charity has set significant targets for growth, aiming to provide more opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to take part in the programme across Ulster.
