Ireland Special Olympics team continue to bag medals
The Ireland Special Olympics team has been going strong at the 2011 Special Olympics World Games currently underway in Athens. This time around, Ireland has been able to earn itself podium finishes in swimming, soccer and bocce among others.
The Ireland Special Olympics team has gotten its hands on two gold medals as Simon Darragh and Olive Magee won first place in the bocce men’s and women's singles. That was not the only achievement of the Irish team in the event as they were also able to
bag the bronze medal, which was taken by Conor Ryan of Kilkenny.
A gold medal and silver were also won by the Irish in the equestrian working trials. The two atheletes that were able to accomplish this were Dubliner Sally Duffy and Steven Yetman. Silver medals were also won by the Irish in swimming and atheletics with
gold coming in from golf.
In all, the Irish team has been able to bring their total number of medals to 67. The most medals that the team has been able to bag are silver, tallying at 32. After the silver medals comes the gold, which has now been won by 20 Irish athletes. The least
number of medals that the Irish Special Olympics team has earned for itself are bronze, equaling 15.
The first Special Olympics event took place in Chicago in 1968. The purpose of the event was to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing them the opportunity to excel at sports. The success on the playing field is thought to
translate into the life of the participants off the field also. The Special Olympics have now developed to such a large extent that it has become the largest sporting event in which youngsters as well as adults with intellectual disabilities can take part.
Like the Olympics, the Special Olympics are held every two years. The sports that are currently being held in Athens feature over 185 participating countries. In all, the athletes present at the games total to be 7,500.
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