Attwood gives practical support to Special Olympics athletes

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today handed over keys to Special Olympics Ulster for a specially adapted van.

The van, funded through the Department’s Modernisation Fund, will enable athletes and their equipment to be transported to various sporting events, such as the recent Special Olympics Ireland Games recently held in Limerick.

Special Olympics Ulster (SOU) is affiliated to Special Olympics Ireland (SOI) which is dedicated to providing an opportunity to every person with a learning disability to participate in high quality sporting and development activities. SOU provides a service to more than 2,000 Special Olympic athletes who participate in a range of sports covering: basketball, football, table tennis, alpine skiing, athletics, tennis, kayaking, aquatics, gymnastics, badminton, ten pin bowling, bocce, golf, pitch and putt, and equestrian events.

Alex Attwood said: “This is a good boost for Ulster’s Special Olympic athletes. The van will help many Special Olympics Ulster athletes, in practical terms, by transporting them and their equipment for training and sporting events.

“I want to see my department’s Modernisation Fund providing modern facilities to make community based initiatives more effective. The Fund is about providing support to organisations throughout Northern Ireland, enabling them to deliver better services to their local communities.

“Special Olympics Ulster is embracing this ethos wholeheartedly. The new van will assist athletes from across the North, helping them participate in sporting activities and events.”

Shaun Cassidy, Regional Director of Special Olympics Ulster said: “On behalf of all the athletes, volunteers, families and supporters of Special Olympics Ulster I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Department for Social Development for their significant support. The grant we have received through the Modernisation Fund affords us the opportunity to enhance and grow our sports programme for people with intellectual disabilities in Northern Ireland. It will also enable our Affiliated Groups to share resources with each other and have access to equipment that otherwise would be outside of their normal budget ranges.”

Special Olympics Ulster (SOU) secured £25,000 to purchase the van from the Department’s Modernisation Fund Capital Programme. They previously received £100,000 for sporting equipment from the same fund.

Notes to editors:

1. The objective of the Modernisation Fund is to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise to enable them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change. The capital programme will encourage collaboration and resource sharing among voluntary and community groups and will be managed across the schemes making up the programme.
2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.