Forth Valley Disability Sport Team has excelled themselves in the 40th Anniversary Scotland Special Olympics which was hosted at the University of Stirling from Thursday 8th August and Sunday 12th August 2018. Forth Valley Special Olympics Team’s medal haul has reached 16 medals overall.
The Forth Valley team of 10 athletes and seven coaches / carers competed against athletes from all over Great Britain, Europe and Asia. Individuals from Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire athletes represented Forth Valley in the Special Olympics which is a competition for people with learning disabilities and is organised by Special Olympics Scotland. Forth Valley was represented in athletics, bowls, golf, multi activity training programme (MATP) and swimming.
The games began with an exciting opening ceremony which set the scene for the three day competition, with performances from Red Hot Chilli Pipers and many other well know celebraties. Cheers from family and friends welcomed the athletes in their parade as they entered Forthbank Stadium in Stirling alongside Special Olympic legend from the past 40 years, Davie Lawrie, the founder of Forth Valley Disability Sport.
The Forth Valley Team has been training hard for the competition which took place in three venues throughout Stirling. The commitment of the athletes has been evident in the results which you can see listed below. Well done to all of our Special Olympics athletes, many of whom medalled and recorded personal bests.
Mitchell Graham, Team Manager, said: “It has been a fantastic competition and for many of the athletes, they have been training at the competition venue as part of their preparation. Everyone will be going home with memories they will never forget.” He also went on to thank the many local business that have supported the team including RJM Sports who supplied the Forth Valley teams Uhlsport kit, Coaches for transporting the team to and from Stirling and the volunteer coaches, escorts and careers who have made it possible for the team to be here.
Forth Valley Disability Sport would also like to thank everyone who helped the Special Olympics team to be so successful. A few companies, clubs and organisation are listed below: The Bill McLaren Foundation, Bannockburn Miners Welfare Social Club, Forth Valley Flyers Athletics club, Enable Arion Swimming Club, Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club, Denny Bowling Club, Pollokhaws Bowling Club and Polmont Bowling Club.
If anyone reading this article would like more information about sports participation opportunities for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities please telephone Forth Valley Disability Sport on 01786 466486.
The extensive individual and team medal haul is as follows:-
| Athletics | ||
| Name | Area | Medals |
| Sharon Sloan | Stirling | 1 Gold, 5th |
| James McDonald | Stirling | 1 Silver, 1 Bronze |
| Ellen Wotherspoon | Falkirk | 1 Bronze, 4th, 6th |
| Athletics total: Individual medals – 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze | ||
| Indoor Bowls | ||
| Name | Area | Medals |
| Craig Stirling | Falkirk | 2 Silver |
| Frank Maguire | Falkirk | 1 Gold, 1 Silver |
| Robert McWilliams | Falkirk | 2 Silver |
| Ryan Flynn | Falkirk | 1 Gold, 1 Silver |
| Indoor Bowls total: Pair medals – 2 Silver; Individual medals – 2 Gold, 2 Silver | ||
| Golf | ||
| Name | Area | Medals |
| Andrew Stuart | Stirling | 1 Silver |
| Lewis Scullion | Stirling | 1 Silver |
| Golf total: 2 Silver | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Name | Area | Medals |
| James McDonald | Stirling | 1 Gold, 1 Bronze |
| Sharon Sloan | Stirling | 6th, 6th |
| Swimming total: Individual medals – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze | ||
| MATP | ||
| Name | Area | Medals |
| Hope Wotherspoon | Falkirk | 2 Gold |
| MATP total: Individual – 2 Gold | ||
The total of the medal success overall is: 16 medals.
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