In 2003, the Special Olympics will be held outside of the United States for the first time in their forty-four year history. And to what country are these seven thousand athletes, three thousand coaches, and twenty-eight thousand families and friends travelling?
Ah, with the reputation for warmth and hospitality, where else would they be going, now?
These summer games- which will be held from the 21st to the 29th on June- will be the largest sporting event in the world in 2003. Dublin has been preparing for the event for more than two years- arranging for stadiums, recruiting volunteers, raising the millions and millions in funds that are required to host such an event.
These Games will be the first (and, possibly, only) trip abroad that many of the athletes will have the chance to experience. There are thousands of people working, here, to make the event a success.
One of the neat features is the Host Town Program. After travelling such a distance to participate, the delegations will need to spend a few days resting and getting the lay of the land, here. Entire towns have pooled their resources to welcome athletes from abroad. Maynooth, for instance, is hosting the visitors from Brazil. Brazilian visitors will have the opportunity to relax, get some practice, and recover from jetlag. As the Host Town provides the housing for the whole team, the visitors will be staying within a short distance of people they know, who speak a language they are familiar with. Maynooth will put on some community activities and entertainment, and provide a chance for the visitors to meet some locals. There are close to 200 Host Towns across the country, extending their welcome to each of the 166 countries that will be represented.
At work, there are a number of Special Olympics activities as well.The Dublin office is attempting to raise €10,000 for the games. Symantec’s Head Office in the US will match that amount, if we reach our goal. So, we’re throwing car washes, raffles, table quizzes, all sorts of fun. As one of the venues for the Games- the newly-built National Aquatic Centre- is quite near our offices, many employees will also be volunteering in other ways. It’s inspiring to see how many people have responded, when asked to help out. It should be a great occasion for all who are involved.
More information can be found on the official site--- www.2003specialolympics.com. There is also a link, there, if you’d like to make a donation. You don’t need to live in Ireland to lend a hand!
--Added to the DFA Guide, February 2003
Guide Index Red words? Check the Dub Glossary!