REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS FRIDAY, 21ST MAY, 1999
I am absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to welcome our athletes to Áras an Uachtaráin as you prepare for the World Special Olympics which are only a few weeks away. I’m glad that you have found time to be here despite your busy training programmes. I hope that you will enjoy the afternoon and leave with fond memories of the day you came to Áras.
You seem to be in a party mood enjoying the entertainment – we have lots more in store for you. You already heard our harpist, Clodagh Haughton, on the way in; you’ve just been listening to Dorothy Murphy and her jazz group and later on, we’ll have the boy band, N.V. In a little while I will come around and meet you all, and later on I will be inviting you to take a closer look at this great house, a place which has seen so many changes since the events of this island’s history have ebbed and flowed over the last several centuries. Weather and time permitting, I would also like to invite you to stroll in the beautiful and historic grounds. A lot of Irish history has passed through this place.
We are all well aware of the rich personal rewards that are to be gained from active participation in sport. Special Olympics, which carries the message “involvement for all abilities”, presents opportunities to develop physical fitness, experience joy and satisfaction through the various activities and participate in a sharing of fun and friendship with each other, with families and community. When children are guided through a structured programme that is graded to suit their abilities, success is enjoyed by every individual. This success helps children in so many other areas of life. For example, we know that success in games and PE has the effect of improving a child’s self-esteem and confidence – which is so important to the overall development and realisation of true potential.
Games are about participation and sometimes about competition, about the opportunities to demonstrate skills and courage and ability. You, our special athletes, have these qualities in abundance. We remember how very proud we were when in the World Games in Connecticut in 1995, our Irish Team of 74 athletes brought home 76 medals - a great achievement by any standards. We are very proud too that because of the great impact made by our Special Olympics Committee, Ireland will host the Games in 2003 – the work has already started and it was a great joy to me to see the Franklin Delano Roosevelt prize of $50,000 which Ireland won for its work on disability, going to the Special Olympics in recognition of its terrific work.
Providing sporting opportunities is a challenging undertaking but a mission which needs to be fulfilled. The huge amount of volunteering which makes these opportunities possible is so often unrecognised and unthanked. The hours spent after work, coaching, at committees, fundraising, those tasks which are done simply for love and not for thanks, but today I want to say thank you. As a mother whose children are all involved in sport I know what a load you take off my mind. Keeping my kids safe, healthy and giving them chances they would not get without you.
I commend everyone associated with Special Olympics Ireland for your commitment, support and hard work which make the games such a success, but most of all, I commend the parents and the competitors who so whole heartedly enter the spirit of the games. Your dedication and wonderful courage are an inspiration to us all.
I wish each and everyone of our 77 wonderful athletes representing Ireland in the World Games, the best of luck and I hope that you enjoy even more success than our competitors did in the past. I will be paying close attention to news of how the Games are progressing in North Carolina and how well we are doing. I look forward to 2003 when the World Games will be here - the largest cultural and sporting event ever staged in this country. That will be some occasion – remember to tell as many people as possible in North Carolina that a huge Cead Míle Fáilte is waiting for them here!
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. I suppose I should make a special plea to your Coaches, guiding you through your training programmes to see if it is okay for you to enjoy some refreshments today. If they say no – the Áras staff and I will be drinking orange and eating crisps for months! Maybe they’ll make an exception – just for today.