Southside athletes line up for LA Games

NO FEWER than 17 athletes from the Southside are taking part in the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles next July.

The athletes, from across the area, are thrilled to have been selected for the games and are currently training hard at their local clubs.

The athletes are among the 32 Dublin entrants who make up part of Team Ireland that will travel to Los Angeles to compete at the World Games this summer.

With just six months until the World Games kick off, Team Ireland is busy preparing and training for the games that place from July 25 to August 2.

The athletes are being supported by a 40-strong management and coaching staff.

This summer, the iconic city of Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 athletes from 177 countries to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Supported by over 30,000 volunteers – including 200 from across the island of Ireland – the games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.

To cover the cost of sending Team Ireland to the Games, Special Olympics must raise

?¬440,000. The cost incurred by Special Olympics Ireland to prepare and send each of the athletes to Los Angeles is

?¬5,000.

This sum will cover all aspects for each athlete due to represent Ireland at the World Games including sports training, travel costs, uniforms, medical and equipment.

Matt English, CEO, and Special Olympics Ireland, said:

“2015 is shaping up to be a huge year for our athletes. It’s a tremendous achievement to be selected to represent Team Ireland at LA 2015.

“Over the coming months we will be working hard to generate the necessary funds to send Team Ireland athletes to the World Games and I am confident that the business world will answer our call for support as they have done so many times in the past.

“Special Olympics Ireland is calling on businesses across the country to be generous in their support of our local athletes as they prepare for this important milestone in their Special Olympics journey.

“The support and generosity of businesses and corporate donors will ensure that Team Ireland athletes enjoy their momentous World Games experience to the full.

?

For further information on Team Ireland’s preparations for LA 2015 and to find out more about the Support an Athlete programme, visit www.specialolympics.ie or call 1850462005.

Among those taking part is equestrian athlete Elizabeth Mair (36) from Rathfarnham.

Elizabeth said she was

“shocked but very happy and delighted

? when she heard the news that she was going with the team to Los Angeles.

Elizabeth is already a gold medallist having won at the National Games at Limerick 2014.

Another competitor is David Carrig (36) from Lucan, who was delighted to have been selected to go to LA to compete in the summer as a Football 11 athlete.

However the news didn’t quite hit him straight away.

“It took a long time to sink in,

? David said.

“I could not believe I was selected.

?

Francis Bilardi (28) was ecstatic upon hearing the news that he had be chosen to go to the games.

Having been involved with Cheeverstown Special Olympics Club for 13 years Francis has a wealth of experience behind him.

Omer Teko is a 22-year-old athlete from Greenpark who will be taking part in the 5-A-Side Football.

He is thrilled to represent his country and has been training hard at his local club in Rathcoole.