Northsider heading to Special Olympics

NORTHSIDER Stephen Lee will be heading to this year’s Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz and Schladming, Austria, as part of a 28 person Team Ireland squad.

Stephen, who is a native of the Navan Road, will be taking part in his first Winter Games after impressing at the Floorball trials in Limerick two years ago.

Floorball is a sport similar to ice hockey with the exception that it’s played in indoor facilities as opposed to on the ice. The 2017 Games will be the first Special Olympics World Winter Games where floorball will feature as an official sport after it was previously trialled at the 2015 Games in South Korea.

Lee’s mother Vera, who is going to this year’s games as part of a travelling party of nine, said her son is delighted to be representing his country in what will be Ireland’s first time competing in the sport.

“We’re over the moon for him,” Vera told Northside People.

“It’s a huge a big gathering, everyone’s in good form and there’s just a huge emphasis on taking part. I know they want to win but they’re not devastated if they don’t. 

“You have no idea the friends that they make. They play the games together and these clubs they have are marvellous, really marvellous. They’re great outlets for people with intellectual disabilities.”

Team Ireland coach Michael Lynch said he’s happy with his side’s progress and is optimistic about Ireland’s chances.

“I think they’re all training very well and I think we’ve got a great bunch together,” he said.

“They’re looking forward to it. We understand that we’ll be playing against countries where floorball is their main sport.

“It’s going to be a fair competition because if you get beaten in the first game, you go into a different group. I think we have a good chance of staying there anyways.”

The Winter Games will be the largest sports event to take place in 2017, hosting 3,000 athletes from 110 countries worldwide.