The morning of Monday 7 August saw over 200 family and friends arrive at St Modan’s High School for the send-off of the Forth Valley Special Olympics team. The team, made up of 53 Athletes, 29 Coaches and a 1 to 1 carer makes up the 82 delegation members of the Forth Valley Special Olympics Team 2017. FV athletes and players will compete in the sports of athletics, indoor bowls, boccia, golf, football and swimming within the six-day competition.
The Special Olympics, this year held in Sheffield, is largest multi-sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities and is held every four years. The Special Olympics represents a huge opportunity to showcase the abilities of children and adults with a learning disability allowing them to compete at a national level, achieve personal bests, as well as enable them to make friends, travel and socialise. More than 500 athletes are heading from Scotland to participate in the Games to join over 2,500 competitors from across Great Britain.
The official send off for the Forth Valley team did not disappoint, with a host of family and friends, as well as the Clackmannanshire Provost Tina Murphy, Stirling Councillor Alasdair Tollemache and local, regional and national partners waving the team off. Tina Murphy gave best wishes by throwing Scottish ‘good luck’ teddies into a sea of excited athletes.
Forth Valley Disability Sport would like to thank all family and friends that have supported their fundraising efforts, and the many local companies and funders that assisted the team including M-Line for transport, RJM Sports for team kit, Awards for All, Schuh Trust and EDF Energy. Also a special mention to the local and regional clubs within Central Scotland who have worked extremely hard to ensure our FV athletes attended the Special Olympics this year: Forth Valley Flyers, Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club, Right on Target Boccia Club, Bridge of Allan Golf Club, Stirling City All Stars and Enable Arion Swimming Club.
Lastly a BIG thank you to Forth Valley Disability Sport, especially Graham Harvey and his team, for their continuous efforts to ensure that the FV athletes and clubs gain the best possible experience at the Special Olympics this year. Please follow the ongoing success of the Forth Valley team on their twitter @ForthValleyDS.
The Special Olympics will be hosted in the city of Sheffield from Monday 7th to Saturday 12th August. Tuesday 8th August sees the opening Ceremony take place at Sheffield United FC.
For more information on the Forth Valley Special Olympics team please contact Graham Harvey at info@fvds.org.uk, or for more information on disability sport in Central Scotland contact Cheryl Willet (Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager) at cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com.
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