The entire nation is excited for the impending London 2012 Olympics. However not many people will be aware that another international event is taking place this summer. Held in Athens, the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games are billed as the ‘Olympics before the Olympics’ complete with international participation, and show-stopping opening ceremony.
Beginning on 25th June, the Special Olympics World Summer Games is the largest multi-sport event taking place this year. The Games will see 7,000 athletes with learning disabilities take part representing 185 nations in 22 Olympic styled sports.
157 learning disabled athletes have already flown over to Athens to represent Great Britain in the Games, after months and even years of preparation and fund-raising. To raise awareness of the hard work and determination that the athletes have put in, Lexis Sport put together a campaign alongside the premier partner of Special Olympics Great Britain, National Grid.
Firstly, we offered UK media a chance to spend the day with one of our athletes - to watch them train, meet their families and get a behind the scenes look at the sheer determination it takes to compete in the Special Olympics at a national level. Special Olympics Director Greg Silvester was a prime candidate for this activity, having built up a career coaching young Special Olympic athletes at the same time as securing a part-time paid role at National Grid.
Secondly, we teamed up with current World Champion Gymnast Beth Tweddle, who took part in a training session with Omar Haddad - a Special Olympics gymnast who is also from Merseyside. Omar was given the chance to show Beth his floor routine for the World Summer Games, and was not only given tips on how to improve it, but advice on how to handle the nerves that come with competing at such a large event.
Finally, we picked a select few athletes to act as regional ambassadors throughout the World Summer Games. These athletes took part in interviews with regional broadcast media before they left for Athens, and will continue to do so throughout the Games to update on not only their individual achievements but on the progress of their peers.
This activity, along with some fantastic events organised by the charity itself – a trip to Downing Street to meet David Cameron being one example – will hopefully raise the profile of these talented and determined athletes. We will keep you posted on how many medals Team GB bring home!
Posts
