REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS EUROPEAN SUMMER GAMES TEAM IRELAND
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS EUROPEAN SUMMER GAMES TEAM IRELAND ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
Welcome everyone and may I offer each of you the traditional welcome to the house - céad mile fáilte. We have had the honour of having many fine sportsmen and women visit Áras and today is your day. Martin and I are delighted to welcome the athletes who represented Ireland so brilliantly in Poland last September at the Special Olympics European Games.
Team Ireland took home a treasure chest of medals (10 Gold, 8 Silver, 11 Bronze), a host of personal bests as well as wonderful memories of great efforts made and great friendships forged through the fun and laughter, the successes and the disappointments. You demonstrated the best of sportsmanship. You supported one another and you brought Ireland to the very heart of Poland. Long before the Games started you were preparing back home. You were training even when you were tired and the weather was miserable. You were determined to do your best in Poland and that you did. There was help and encouragement and advice along the way and so I say a big thank you and congratulations to the athletes, coaches, medics, the organisers, the supporters, the volunteers, families, fundraisers, sponsors, the Special Olympics Board of Directors, the Council of Patrons, and Eircom whose sponsorship involved not alone money but a mighty effort from staff and services.
In these days when people need hope and inspiration we think again of the fantastic national effort that gave us the 2003 Special Olympics World Games which were successful beyond all our dreams and ambitions. We think of the spirit they generated and how it is still powerfully at work. All year round thousands of volunteers support thousands of athletes through fundraising, coaching, organising and helping out at events in clubs and local communities. In June this year, Limerick hosted a fantastic Special Olympics Ireland Games with a dedicated team comprising many volunteers. Thanks to all those loyal and generous people, the Special Olympics movement in Ireland gets stronger and better with each passing year. I thank each and every one of you for all that you do.
I would also like to remember Eunice Kennedy Shriver who, 42 years ago, had the vision and drive to mobilise this unstoppable, life-enhancing force that is the Special Olympics movement. The torch that she lit all those years ago let us see things differently so that today the talents of our special brothers and sisters shine brilliantly and make our world a much fairer, happier place.
Today the Áras welcomes Team Ireland back from Warsaw in September. I thank you for representing our country so well and hope you enjoy your time here and having the opportunity to meet up with each other again. Enjoy the fun, food and craic.
Comhghairdeas libh arís ‘s go raibh míle maith agaibh.