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Day 3
Tuesday 28th July 2009
SPECIAL OLYMPICS GAMES PATRON GARY LINEKER VISITS ON DAY THREE
Gary Lineker OBE signed hundreds of autographs and posed for photographs as he watched Special Olympics athletes take part in the football competition today.
He watch the final 11 a-side match of the day between Scotland West and the Northern region, with the latter emerging victorious by three goals to one.
Gary, a Patron for the Games, commented: “ They are clearly very dedicated and skilful footballers. It’s great to see them out here not only taking part but also competing to a high standard. Meeting the athletes is fantastic and I’m so proud that this event is in my home city for the second time.”
Gary Lineker also made a special appearance at the Games Village next to the Walkers Stadium, joining in with a local golf project. A huge golf fan, Lineker made a hole in one!
Andy Leigh of the Golf Foundation and England Partnership said, “It’s great having Gary Lineker come down and participate, he seemed to enjoy it and he was actually quite good.”
The Tri-golf project is an inner city initiative raising the profile of the sport in urban areas, the scheme is being piloted at the National Summer Games. The Project has seen many athletes and family members taking part. The participants use the chipper and putter golf clubs and Velcro balls to stick on the target to win prizes.
For more information on the Tri-golf project visit: www.golf-foundation.org
Highlights from the third day of sporting activity:
In Tennis, Special Olympics doubles partners Lucy Pethig and Sally Bourne from the Welsh region stormed through their match 6-1 against Yorkshire and Humberside.
Lucy competed at the Shanghai games in 2007 and won two silvers, with one coming in the singles competition and the other in the doubles.
This is Sally’s second National Summer Games after medaling in the 2005 Games in Glasgow. “I hope I make it to Athens in 2011!” she said.
In swimming, East Midlands athlete Aidan Montgomery, 23, won gold in the 100m Butterfly, sustaining the East Midlands team’s impressive start to the swimming competition.
Aidan also won gold at the 2005 National Summer Games in Glasgow and also picked up two bronze medals at the 2007 World Games in Shanghai.
Meanwhile, another East Midlands athlete, 18 year-old Adam Meanwell is one of the biggest medal hopes for the East Midlands this year, after winning all of his qualifiers today. He is expected to sweep-up all the golds in his events on Thursday, which include the 100m individual medley, 100m breast stroke and the 100m freestyle.
Adam won two golds and one silver at the Glasgow National Summer Games four years ago.
21 year-old Christina Lewis also won gold for the East Midlands in the 400m freestyle, knocking 29 seconds off her personal best.
When asked what the best thing about Special Olympics was, she said, “Enjoying the competitions and taking part, they’re the best bits.”
NATIONAL GRID CEO PRESENTS MEDALS AT ATHLETICS COMPETITION ON DAY THREE
Special Olympics Official Partner National Grid CEO Steve Holliday joined hundreds of competitors, supporters, families and National Grid volunteers at the National Summer Games athletics competition at the Saffron Lane Sports Centre today.
After presenting medals at the winners’ podium he took time to congratulate Silver medallist in shot-put Victoria Coombs from Bournemouth and her teammate Sebastian Lewis who proudly announced, “I came last! But I don’t mind – I still have tomorrow to try and win a medal.”
The two were accompanied by their coach Tony Jones Pert who will be the Athletics Head Coach for Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens in 2011 with 170+ countries and 7000+ athletes competing. “Picking the World Summer Games athletic team will be tricky,” he said. “You can’t just pick the best – you have to pick the best in all ability levels.”
Behind the scenes were top British Officials who travelled from around the country to donate their time and expertise.
Wendy Hexell from Hampshire has been an athletics official for 40 years and regularly officiates at the Commonwealth Games, and World and European Indoors competitions. “Since I first started volunteering for Special Olympics in 1986, I have seen a marked change in the training and skill of the athletes and the events have become more organised and follow more of a mainstream, professional standard. I love being here!”
GARY LINEKER OBE AND LAWRIE MCMENEMY RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
Special Olympics Leicester Games Director Steve Humphries and Chair of Special Olympics Leicester Ted Cassidy MBE were pleased to present Games Patron Gary Lineker, SOGB Chairman Lawrie McMenemy and SOGB CEO Karen Wallin with crystal trophies to thank them for their dedication to helping create a sensational National Summer Games. Receiving his award LinEker smiled and quipped, “Buy 2 Get 1 free!”
More sports highlights from day three:
In Table Tennis, Patrick Cox of the East Midlands won Gold today in the division three men’s competition, winning his final game in straight sets 11-4, 11-2 and 11-6 by defeating George Walls from Scotland West.
Patrick has remained undefeated in all five of his group games and is the sport’s youngest competitor at just fifteen years-old.
He also helped recite the Special Olympics Athlete Oath at the start of the Table Tennis competition along with two other team mates, Peter Hirnik (53) and David Ludlow (24).
In Badminton, Lloyd Crawley, one of the youngest members of the Welsh regional team at just 13 years-old, started competing in the men’s singles competition today.
Lloyd also competes in kayaking, football, cricket and swimming but chose badminton as his sport for his first Games.
He has fantastic support from all his family including his mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle and cousins who were in attendance to cheer him on.
He said, “I really enjoyed the opening ceremony, the animals and dragons were really cool! I also felt very proud during the athletes’ parade.”
NEWS FROM MATP AT EVINGTON LEISURE CENTRE
Over 13 individual events were held during Day 2 of the MATP.
A packed hall witnessed many fantastic achievements by the athletes and the triumph was shared by parents and carers alike.
“This is one of the proudest days of my life, “ said one father as his son was presented with a medal.
It was an emotive day that brought feelings of pride and jubilation and a sense of honour at being a witness to such a memorable event that will remain with everyone for a very long time.
EVENT TOMORROW: HIGHCROSS HOSTING SOL ATHLETES AND FAMILIES IN STYLE
Wednesday 29th July sees Highcross host the SOL Athletes, Coaches and Families Shopping event from 6pm - 9pm.
The evening will be full of exciting entertainment with a stilt walker, face painter, Invisible man and various other street entertainers along with Heart 106 Breakfast presenters Amy and “Dangerous Dave” opening the event. Solly and other SOL representatives will be at the event.
Coaches will be departing from accommodation venues and nominated sports venues from approximately 6pm and the first series of coaches depart from Highcross back to accommodation centres from 8.30pm and 9.15pm.
All Athletes, Coaches and family members will have received a bright SOL 2009 gift bag upon arrival to Leicester complete with incentives and discounts for a range of retailers in Highcross.
Thank you to Highcross for their support of the Gift bags and event celebrations.
For all the latest results from the 2009 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, click here
