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Chapter 1: What is the significance of the Special Olympics in Ireland?
Now, the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games is taking place in Dublin this weekend, the first time in eight years. Athletes from five regions, Connacht, Eastern Region, Leinster, Munster and Ulster are competing across 12 sports in Dublin, Meath and Kildare. Now, Henry McKean has been checking out the track and field. He visited Morton Stadium and he's with me now. Good morning, Henry.
Good morning, Pat. Yeah, the Special Olympics Summer Games are the largest sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities on the island of Ireland. And they're supported by thousands of coaches, officials and volunteers.
So there's 12 sports, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, football, gymnastics, golf, kayaking, swimming, table tennis and motor activity training programme as well. I met Alfred Marks, who won a gold and a silver in the 200 and 400 metres.
Yes, I did. And I also represented Ireland in 87 in the Special Olympics. Congratulations. And I want to get this push farther out than where it is now, because people with special needs should be properly recognised, not hidden away.
We are entitled to do the same thing as the Paralympics, that we should have the same encouragement because people with disabilities have been locked away for so long.
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Chapter 2: What sports are included in the Special Olympics Summer Games?
Now is the time that they should be properly recognised because they're no different to anyone else.
I'm having a chat with Tara Loftus. You won gold in the 200 metres. You are Team Munster. How are you feeling?
I'm really happy about it and I have lots of supporters here and they're all nice people.
How was the race for you?
Really hot.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
What's the best thing about the Special Olympics?
Meeting new people and other friends around.
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Chapter 3: How do athletes feel about their achievements at the Special Olympics?
I've been trying hard all year for all this stuff.
And that's Stephen Fagan there. The Special Olympics, even when you hear those voices, it must mean a lot to the athletes and to their families.
Oh, it does. It's team spirit. It's pride. It's infectious energy. And the photographer Ray McManus from Sportsphile, he once said, the Special Olympics is like a good bag of chips. Once you start, you cannot stop. And it really is, Pat, the best feeling in the world. Here is Gemma, the sister to athlete Sinead Tomahini, representing Easton, which is Dublin and Wicklow.
she won silver in the 50 meters run it's just inclusivity like the fact that she's here today at the special olympics is something that nobody can ever take away from her and it's a confidence that she'll get to have forever from all the hard work she's put in i'm phelan uh zoe's dad uh zoe's 14 we live in kill cool county wicklow and uh she has just won a bronze medal in the 50 meter run
How proud are you?
We've three girls and they all get on very well and we're proud of them all. But Zoe makes extra special effort for some of these things and she's delighted to have the opportunity to do the Special Olympics.
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Chapter 4: What impact does participation in the Special Olympics have on athletes and their families?
Hello, my name is Mabel Hanlon. I'm a proud mum to Zoe here. So today she did the 50m sprint and you came, where did you come Zoe? Church Place.
How does it feel getting bronze at the Special Olympics Ireland Games, Zoe?
I feel happy.
What's the best thing about it?
Running. Running, is it, or winning? Winning!
Yeah! Well done Stephen! My name is Stuart O'Dwyer, this is my son Riley, he's just come toured the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games. I used to say when I was fast, it made me sad. You were, you were brilliant.
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Chapter 5: How do volunteers contribute to the success of the Special Olympics?
All the work you've done all year has come to this and you've paid off, look. So you must be so proud. I am, I can't explain the emotions that I'm going through at the moment. It gives him a chance to be the best he can be and achieve something that none of us ever thought was possible. So Riley, did you prowl to bronze? Oh, immensely.
I can't even put into words what Riley has made me feel today.
So you're delighted and a little bit of a tear?
I am. Oh, there was tears shed. I'll be honest.
A very proud dad, indeed. Now, Henry, the extraordinary thing, this is a huge event, so many sports, so many venues, and it's all volunteers. It is volunteers.
And, you know, being Father's Day, hearing that father and the joy in his face and just listening to him.
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Chapter 6: What emotions do parents experience during the Special Olympics?
And remember, you can get behind it. It's continuing until tonight. It's islandgames.ie forward slash venues. And yes, Pat, it's all volunteers. Here's an athlete and his coach.
Myself, Leon Keough, and I've been competing there in the athletics there. And yeah, today it's been a great turnout with so many people from different regions and everyone's having good fun. We got gold and a lot of hard races out there, good competitors. It's...
really tough out there because there's so many good people at the highest level competing over these last few days and it's really tough especially in the heat and it is warm 100 meters gold leon kyo congratulations and i have your coach here martin thompson how proud are you of the eastern region team
Oh, amazing, Henry, absolutely amazing. The guys are all putting in so much work, and they've worked so hard to get here, and it's just a real celebration today. And Leon did absolutely brilliant on the 200 metres. He absolutely burnt round. He was really anxious about that bend, and he absolutely smashed it.
Chapter 7: How can listeners support the Special Olympics and its athletes?
I'm so proud of him. And, yeah, we're going to have a good celebration tonight with him. And, yeah, fully deserved. Absolutely brilliant. And it's just great to see so much joy here in the Sentry, in the Morton Stadium today.
And the games continue, Henry, do they not, until later tonight? All day, free, get behind it. I'm delighted they're having the weather. Oh, beautiful. Okay, irelandgames.ie forward slash venues. You'll get directly to the venues details of that. But if you want generally to know about the Special Olympics, it's simply specialolympics.ie. Henry McKean, thank you very much.