In the summer of 2003, Dublin hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games. This was the first time that this event took place outside America. It was a hugely successful occasion.

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For the large number of volunteers who were involved in 2003 it was an experience without parallel. Following a number of meetings in early 2005, a small group of people got together over the summer months and in July 2005 an ad-hoc group of ex-volunteers decided to explore the feasibility of setting up a tenpin bowling Special Olympic club.

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The first bowling night took place on Tuesday 4th October 2005 in Leisureplex, Stillorgan. It was decided to have bowling every Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:30pm from September to May/June. At that stage, the club had 8 Athletes. Today, the club has in excess of 30 Athletes.

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As a project, the Club organised a "Review Meeting" involving all members of the Club. Then during the month of April 2010, the Athletes prepared a number of possible new names for the tenpin bowling club. On 17th May 2010 at a general meeting of Volunteers, Coaches and Family Members, the Athletes voted that they alone would have the choice on the Club's name for bowling. The name "Stillorgan Eagles Special Olympics Club" was their choice from their selection of names.

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The Athletes also agreed on their preference of a new club uniform. The new uniform arrived for the start of the new season in September'10.

Foundation of Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a year round sports training and competition programme for people with an intellectual disability. Founded in 1968 in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the organisation has now grown to encompass over 160 countries worldwide with more than 2.25million athletes participating in 30 Olympic-type sports. 500,000 coaches (based on 2/3 of volunteers being coaches) also participate.

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The World Health Organization estimates that 3% of the world's population has intellectual disabilities, which means there are up to 190 million people in the world with an intellectual disability, making it the largest disability population on earth.

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The late Eunice Kennedy Shriver was Founder and Honorary Chairman of Special Olympics organisation. Timothy P. Shriver is the current Chairman.

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Special Olympics Ireland

Special Olympics Ireland was established in 1978 and is an all Ireland programme. The organisation has 5 regions; Connaught, Eastern Region, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

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Matt English is CEO and Terry Buckley is Chairman of Special Olympics Ireland.

 

Mary Davis is Global CEO, Special Olympics International.

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Athletes and Volunteers

11,000 athletes participate in 12 sports through 402 clubs, supported by 100 community networks and 18,000 volunteers in Ireland. Special Olympics Ireland is now one of Ireland's largest community and voluntary organisations reaching 33% of persons with intellectual disabilities all over the country.

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Impact on Athletes

Children and adults with an intellectual disability who participate in Special Olympics, develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

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They grow mentally, socially and spiritually and, through their activities, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but "their voices" as well.

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Who is eligible to participate in Special Olympics Ireland?

To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must be at least six years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction. Whilst athletes can commence training at six years of age, they must be eight years old before participating in competitions.

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Each club has a formal registration process which involves a completed Participation Form and Medical Form, the latter completed by a medical doctor. To comply with insurance requirements, these forms must be completed before a new Athlete may participate in a club's activities.