Speech by President Connolly at Official Opening of Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games
Tallaght Stadium, 18 July 2026
A chairde uaisle, a lúthchleasaithe, a lucht foirne agus tacaíochta ar fad,
Tá mé thar a bheith sásta a bheith i bhur gcomhluadar i Staid Thamhlachta inniu do Shearmanas Oscailte Chluichí Oilimpeacha Speisialta na hÉireann 2026.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Príomhfheidhmeannach Oilimpeacha Speisialta na hÉireann, Karen Coventry, agus leis an gCathaoirleach Brendan O’Brien..
I’m delighted to be here with you today as the tenth President of Ireland at the opening of the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games. I would like to thank you all for your very warm welcome.
Over the next 3 days, more than 1200 athletes from regional teams throughout Ireland will be competing in 12 different sports. It is important to highlight that these games are an all-island competition. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games which were held in Belfast in 1986.
Now, almost six decades on from the establishment of the Special Olympics by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, it is a testament to your hard work that the Games have gone from strength to strength.
I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Shriver family, including the Chairman, Timothy Shriver, for their continued dedication to these very special games.
I also wish to recognize the work of Mary Davis, former Global CEO of the Special Olympics, who is also with us here today.
The vision of Special Olympics Ireland is to transform lives through sport. This transformation is only possible however, through the combined effort and dedication of you the athletes, the coaches and with the ongoing support of families and communities, not to mention the thousands of fans.
The months and years spent in preparation and training for these games are the essential steps in this amazing process of transformation. Indeed, athletes are now in year 3 of a 4-year cycle towards the ultimate goal of participating in the World Games in 2027 in Santiago, Chile from the 16th – 24th October.
Success of course is not solely measured by the number of medals gained or the number of games won or lost. It is so much more. It is in the joy of the face of the athlete, that wonderful smile inspiring us all to do our very best in all that we undertake and do in life.
The qualities we all need on that journey are reflected here in so many ways – the discipline, the commitment, the resilience, the courage and the perseverance. These characteristics and qualities can only be fully developed and realised with the invaluable help and contribution of communities the length and breadth of Ireland. The figures speak for themselves with over 400 coaches and 2500 volunteers supporting the athletes over this 4-year cycle journey.
Contributing to that successs is what Ireland is uniquely doing in offering free health screening to the athletes, supporting wellbeing both on and off the field of play.
Significantly, this is also the first Ireland Summer Games to demonstrate a Youth Sport Showcase, and the second to feature a Young Athletes Festival for those in the 4-12 age range. These initiatives are a valued addition to the Summer Games and contribute much to the inclusivity that defines the Special Olympics.
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh ar fud sult agus tairbhe as Cluichí Oilimpeacha Speisialta na hÉireann 2026. Ní fios ach gurbh as na cluichí seo a thiocfaidh Lúthchleasaithe Olimpeacha Domhanda na todhchaí.
Go n-éirí libh agus go mba fada buan sibh.
I now have the privilege, as the tenth President of Ireland, to declare the 2026 Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games officially open.