Opening Ceremony

 

On Saturday 25th July, 2,400 learning disabled athletes from across Great Britain will arrive in Leicester to celebrate the start of the 8th Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. Held every four years the National Summer Games provide a week of Olympic-styled sports competition for learning disabled athletes across the country.  Over 21 sports will be represented during games week with activities taking place across a variety of sporting venues in Leicester between Saturday 25th July and Friday 31st July.

A host of celebrity supporters are expected to support the athletes during Games week. On Saturday 25th July, the athletes will be joined at the Opening Ceremony by Sarah Brown, wife of Rt Hon Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics and son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver who founded Special Olympics in the USA in the 1960’s.  Sarah and Tim will also be joined by Lawrie McMenemy MBE, Chairman of Special Olympics GB, Games Patron Martin Johnson and Special Olympics GB ambassadors Ossie Ardiles and Leicester FC legend Alan Birchenall. Throughout Games week, celebrities including Gary Lineker and Paul Nixon will also be visiting the athletes.

Special Olympics Great Britain is a charity that provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults with learning disabilities.  In addition to the athletes taking part, the city of Leicester is also gearing up to welcome over 1,200 coaches, 6,000 families and over 1,500 volunteers.  Nineteen venues across the region will play host to the sporting events, with Leicester City Football Club the setting for the Games Village and the Universities of De Montfort and Leicester housing the athletes during Games week.

Sarah Brown, wife of Rt Hon Prime Minister Gordon Brown, supporter of Special Olympics said “This year’s British Games in Leicester are set to be the biggest ever – the ability and hard work of the  hundreds of athletes, coaches and volunteers taking part in the National Summer Games will help to increase awareness of learning disabilities and remind us all that every single person is unique.  I am looking forward to being a part of the opening ceremony and I hope the athletes participating in the Games take as many special memories as those who are supporting them throughout the week.”

Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the LOCOG Committee, said: “The Special Olympics show that sport is an essential part of life and everyone should have the chance to take part in it.

 

“I wish all the athletes taking part in the National Summer Games in Leicester the very best of luck. I know that they will put on a great spectacle of sport over the coming week and that the city of Leicester will deliver a world-class event.”

Lawrie McMenemy, SOGB Chairman, said: “I am eagerly awaiting for the Games to begin. The city of Leicester has done a fantastic job preparing for The National Summer Games as this unique is the perfect stage for athletes to showcase their abilities and competitive spirit whilst making friends for life.”

Ted Cassidy MBE, Chair of Special Olympics Leicester, added: “We are so proud that the Games are taking place in our city.  Games week is a culmination of the hard work and dedication from all of the partners and supporters from across the county of Leicestershire and Rutland. The real stars, however, will be the athletes themselves and I hope they have a fantastic time participating in the National Summer Games.”

The Opening Ceremony will kick-off at 6:30pm Saturday, 25th July at Leicester City FC’s Walker’s Stadium with football legend Alan Birchenall hosting the event. Recently-reformed pop act the New Beautiful South will perform an acoustic set whilst the highlight will be the athletes’ parade through the stadium and the lighting of Special Olympics Flame of Hope.