A sporting chance
Omagh Special Olympics Club
People with learning disabilities can find it difficult to get involved with sport, but the Omagh Special Olympics Club is working to make that a thing of the past. Since officially forming in 2006, adults and children with special needs have been able to take part in a range of equestrian and aquatic activities, both training and competing. A National Lottery grant helped ensure the teams can be kitted out in smart uniforms when taking part in training sessions and competitions, boosting the esteem of everyone involved.
The club currently has 18 members who take part in swimming and 21 who ride horses. Seven athletes have been chosen to go for gold in the Special Olympic Ireland Games 2010. "If they're successful in Limerick, they stand a chance of qualifying for the 2011 Special Olympics International Games in Athens," says club secretary Rosemary McAleer.
Many of the volunteers are athletes' relatives, which gives the club a family atmosphere and means everyone involved is even prouder of successes. As Rosemary says: "When I see the great joy each of the athletes takes in the club, especially when in uniform, I burst with pride."
For any person with learning disabilities, the experience of training and competing in events is immensely rewarding, as it is for the volunteers who help them win medals, says Rosemary. "The athletes are so proud and competitive, no different from any other person who receives recognition for their achievements," she adds.
Omagh Special Olympics Club Sports Council for Northern Ireland Back to top
