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Team Ireland Return Home to Heroes Welcome!

TEAM Ireland received a rapturous welcome from family members, friends and supporters when they arrived in Dublin Airport this evening.

The 141 Athletes and their 55 coaches had just stepped off a gruelling 13 hour flight from Shanghai via London from the Special Olympics World Summer Games, but there was no sign of tiredness when they were led out to the arrivals hall by a piper, to an explosion of cheers and applause from the large crowd which had gathered to greet them.

TEAM Ireland had an outstanding performance at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, winning a total of 119 Medals and 69 Ribbons in 11 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Equestrian, Football (5 aside Male; 5 aside Female & 11 aside Male), Golf, Gymnastics and Table-Tennis.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games ran from 2-11th October in Shanghai, China. 7,200 athletes from 165 nations and regions took part in the Games, which were held for the first time in Asia.

One of the first to congratulate TEAM Ireland on their achievement at the Games was President Mary McAleese “I would like to send my congratulations and warmest good wishes to Team Ireland—to the athletes, families and supporters who have all contributed so much to making this such a memorable World Games for Ireland”.

Speaking at the airport where he officially welcomed home the Team, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Séamus Brennan T.D. said “I am delighted to welcome home our returning Special Olympians, and on behalf of the Irish people, to congratulate and thank all the athletes, coaches, families, supporters and volunteers for what has been a memorable and joyous few weeks. Our athletes have done the country proud with their courage, skill, and superb sportsmanship. Naturally we want to say a special well done to all those returning home with medals and ribbons, but the Special Olympics has a beauty and a resonance that cannot be measured by a medal and ribbon tally. Each and every one of our athletes have given of their best and in doing so have held firmly to that most important and inspiring core principal of the Special Olympics movement; “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”.

TEAM Ireland also received hundreds messages of support during the Games from fans all over Ireland who sent their best wishes and greetings via eircom’s dedicated website: specialolympics.eircom.net/

200 volunteers also travelled to the Special Olympics World Summer Games to support TEAM Ireland. They will return to Dublin Airport on Saturday 13th October.

First up were Sharon O’ Brien (Buree, Limerick) and Mary Blair (Newtownabbey, Antrim) in ladies mixed doubles, after three matches the pair finished up in third place to win a bronze medal each. Gerry Mc Cormack (Ballymote, Sligo) had a cracking afternoon, playing three matches against Greece and Pakistan. The Sligo man took on Andreas Tsokos (Greece) and won 3-0, he beat Faisal Memmood (Pakistan) 3-2 in the semi final and went on to meet another Greek, Epaminondas Gotsis in the final with a clear win 3-0. Gerry Mc Cormack brings home a gold medal from the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Today saw Cork win two Gold medals, Timothy Dorgan (Mallow) in the pool and Diarmuid Coughlan (Whitechurch) on the bowling lanes. Swimmer, Timothy Dorgan outpaced his rival from Venezuela to win in a time of 00:54.21. While at Shanghai Gaodian Bowling Hall, Diarmuid Coughlan took gold in a high scoring final, playing consistently over three games to build up an impressive 462 score with only seven pins to spare over the second placed Croatian bowler.

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