Southside athletes get set for world games

A NUMBER of Southside athletes will be joining Team Ireland when they set off to travel to the Special Olympics World Winter Games next month.

Thomas Caulfield (23) and Lorcan Byrne (35), from Ballyfermot, as well as Niall Flynn (30), from Dun Laoghaire, and Laoise Kenny (16) from Monkstown, are part of the 26-strong squad that will be competing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 in Graz and Schladming, Austria. 

 Thomas and Lorcan are competing in floorball, a team sport similar to unihoc or ice hockey but played in a rink on a standard playing surface, while Laoise is  looking forward to representing Ireland in Alpine skiing.

While some of the athletes have competed in Special Olympics Games in the past, for Lorcan and Laoise this will be their first time taking part in a world games competitively. 

All of the athletes are extremely excited to be representing their country in the world games this year and have been training hard.

Many have been incorporating swimming, football, athletics, and basketball into their exercise regime to ensure they are fit and ready for the games in March. 

Team Ireland floorball head coach, Michael Lynch, said: “I think they’re all training very well and I think we’ve got a great bunch together.

“They’re looking forward to it,” he added. “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 Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017 will be the largest sports event to take place in this year as it hosts 3,000 athletes from 110 countries worldwide.

 Commenting on the Team Ireland launch, Liz Callery, Regional Director, Special Olympics Eastern, said: “We are extremely proud of our Dublin athletes for being selected to represent Team Ireland at the 2017 World Winter Games. 

“They have shown great dedicated and motivation, as well as strong discipline and tremendous skill in getting this far.

“The whole of Dublin and beyond will be cheering all our athletes on.

“We wish them and the whole of Team Ireland well with their preparations.”

Team Ireland will compete in two winter sports; alpine skiing and floorball, with six alpine skiers and two teams of 10 floorball athletes making up the squad.  

Team Ireland will be supported at the games by 12 support staff in coaching, medical, logistics and mentoring roles, while up to 100 volunteers will travel to Austria to assist with the running of the games.

Athletes will also be joined by family members and friends, who will travel to cheer them on as they compete on the world stage.

The opening ceremony will be held at the WM-Stadium, Schladming on March 18 and is expected to attract thousands of spectators.

The full programme of events includes snowshoeing, snowboarding, stick shooting, figure skating, speed skating, floor hockey, floorball and alpine skiing.

Liz Callery also paid tribute to the many local business and organisations that have pledged funds to help raise the necessary €3,000 needed to cover the cost of each Special Olympics athlete’s participation in the 2017 World Winter Games.