PRINCIPAL clerk of works Richard Walker (pictured) volunteered as a football referee at the 1989 games, which were also held in Leicester.

 

He remembers an extraordinary feeling of camaraderie.

 

"It was a great few days. There was a fantastic spirit it was like no other. It was 5-a side and the standard of football was extremely high.

 

"There was competitiveness between the athletes. But it was the sportsmanship and friendship that lingers in the mind.

 

"At the award ceremony there were thousands of people cheering and hugging. As a referee, you don’t ever get people hugging you after matches.

 

"On the last day we played a match against the athletes. It started as an eight a side game. However the athletes had a secret weapon: there were over 120 of them. Team after team joined in and before we knew it, we were playing against dozens of footballers.

 

"It was such fun. In the end the adjudicator had to stop us. We would have played all day if we could.

 

"Afterwards I wore my Special Olympics tie for weeks. I still have it."