2014 Games

Special Olympics get off to a great start in Limerick

The games will run until Sunday.
10.36pm, 13 Jun 2014
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image (11) 100 metres divisional race Luke O'Brien (12) Luke O'Brien (12)

TODAY WAS THE first day of Special Olympics Ireland.

About 1,500 athletes from the four corners of Ireland are competing in the games in Limerick.

Out of these games a team of approximately 100 athletes will be chosen to represent Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles next year.

CEO of Special Olympics Ireland Matt English said: “Today was an incredibly successful first day of competition. Athletes gave a great account of themselves across the 14 sports and the 2014 Games are already blessed with many memorable moments.

Spirits are very high heading into the weekend and we would invite anyone with access to the various venues to come experience the joy of these Games.

Among those who went along was Luke O’Brien (12), who was there supporting his sister.

Here’s one of the great photos he took of the action:

image (12) Basketball divisional match Luke O'Brien (12) Luke O'Brien (12)

Our slideshow has even more photos from the day:

Special Olympics get off to a great start in Limerick
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  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Special Olympics

    Source: Alan Place

  • Team Eastern Region getting ready to do battle on the basketball court

    Team Eastern Region getting ready to do battle on the basketball court Source: Luke O'Brien (12)

  • Shooting for a basket

    Shooting for a basketSource: Luke O'Brien (12)

(Alan Place/Alan Place Photography unless otherwise credited)

Sports ambassadors including rugby legends Keith Wood, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan, as well as Dublin Hurling manger, Anthony Daly and former football player, Jason Sherlock are just some of the famous faces that have turned out to cheer on the athletes.

The 2014 Games – which run until Sunday June 15 – are supported by 3,000 volunteers and 600 coaches.

A video has also been made of the first day of the Special Olympics, the theme of the video is Volunteers, who are described as ”the incredible people from all walks of life who are the lifeblood of Special Olympics”.

SpecialOlympicsIrl / YouTube

Originally published at 19:49.

Read: Athletes ready as Special Olympics Ireland get underway>

Read: RTÉ says televising National Special Olympics would be too expensive>

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