Special Olympics GB National Games Huge Success for Bath

Over 1,700 athletes with intellectual disabilities from across the UK headed to Bath in August to compete in a range of sporting disciplines as part of the Special Olympics GB National Games 2013.

Following an extravagant opening ceremony in front of the Royal Crescent, three days of sporting action ensued. 

As a charity, Special Olympics GB supports 8,000 of the UK's estimated 1.2 million people with intellectual disabilities and runs 150 clubs nationwide to help those with an IQ of 75 or under take part in sport. 

Despite having a series of benefits for the athletes involved, the games also allowed parents to chat with individuals in a similar situation to themselves.

The games aim to dispel feelings of isolation and discrimination and to highlight what the athletes can do, as opposed to what they can't. 

Irene White from Yate was in Bath to watch her nephews compete in Bocce. 

"I'm so proud of Stasiu and Jasiu, they've been absolutely brilliant. They put their heart and soul into everything that they do, so I couldn't be more pleased with them both. 

Watching them win the bronze medal, was just something else. I loved every minute of it, but it was so nerve wracking. There were moments when I wanted to jump in and help them out, so I had to be tough on myself.

The boys have been playing the sport for a couple of years, so for them to take home a bronze medal is brilliant. This is the first time that they've competed properly and they can't wait to do it again.

The Special Olympics gave the boys and all other people with special needs the platform to demonstrate their abilities and show the world what they can do. Everyone had such an amazing outlook during the event, so I can't wait for the next games"

Many of the winners from Bath will be hoping to be selected to represent Great Britain at the World Special Olympics which take part in Los Angeles in 2015.

Communications director for Special Olympics GB Maeve Chappell added:

"Here in the UK we're a volunteer based organisation made up of 150 sports clubs from all around the country, with about 4000 registered athletes.

Special Olympics exists to provide sports training and competition opportunities to people with intellectual disability - it's a group within society that's hugely excluded, so we aim to use the power of sport to transform individuals into confident athletes.

Bath was a huge boost to Special Olympics in the South West of the country, the UK is quite far behind the rest of the world in terms of awareness of the games so it's been fantastic educated people in and around the city and the positive the effect the games can have."