NEWS

OUR PLAYERS, REPRESENTING AUSTRALIA~20/05/03
For a number of years now, players from the YMCA No.2 team have been representing Australia at the Special Olympics. The article below appeared in THE POST newspaper, 30th April 2003.

Scott fit and ready for world games

Scott Barrett is so excited at representing Australia in soccer at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Ireland that he can barley wait to take to the skies. Having already represented his country in the Australian Special Olympics soccer team in New Zealand in 2001, Barrett is looking forward to another international tournament.

“I’m fit and ready to go – I’m keen to go right now, “ the Charlestown soccer enthusiest said. “There are going to be 87 different countries over there.” Playing with him will be younger brother Jason, from Wakefield, and Neil Henderson, of Cardiff, and Gary Yule, of East Maitland. The four, who work together at Access Industries at Hamilton, have been honing their skills in the local church league competition.

They are among 78 Special Olympics Australia athletes heading to Ireland in June for the Games. The athletes include two other Hunter representatives, basketballers Lee Towers of Windale, and Joseph Walker, of Anna Bay.

With an expected 7500 athletes from more than 160 countries around the world, the Special Olympics World Games will have the highest participation levels of any sporting event in the world this year.

Crowds are estimated to reach up to 500,000 during the Games week in Ireland. Special Olympics is an international organization, which provides year-round sports training and competition for adults and children with an Intellectual disability.

The Special Olympics World Games are held every four years. This year is the first time the Games will be held outside of the United States. The Games will be home to more than 21 sporting events in and around Dublin including aquatics athletics basketball, tennis and bowling.

By Tim Isles

Powered by counter.bloke.com

Something you would like to see changed? email Phil King. Get him to fix it.

RECENT

REP TEAM ANNOUNCED~05/05/03 - Representative team for 2003. MORE

TEAM SHEETS~16/04/03 - Info Regarding team sheet. MORE

DIVISIONS REQUESTED~20/03/03 - Divisions Requested by each of the clubs. MORE