Aug 22, 2019
Press Release 21st August 2019
For immediate release
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Special Olympics Ireland recognised as a Healthy Community
Special Olympics Ireland receives Healthy Communities Award
Today it has been announced that Special Olympics Ireland has been recognised as a Healthy Community. The Healthy Communities Recognition Award is the highest health distinction awarded by Special Olympics International, which acknowledges the continuous work Special Olympics Ireland has carried out towards improving accessibility of health information and services for people with intellectual disability.
Special Olympics Ireland supports the global vision to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities have the same opportunities and access to health care as people without intellectual disabilities.
“People with intellectual disabilities often experience poorer quality and reduced access to health services. From the Healthy Athlete programme research we know that on a team of 10 Special Olympics athletes, 4 will need glasses and 2 will have some sort of eye disease, 6 will be overweight or obese, 3 will fail a hearing test and 2 will have low bone density. Special Olympics Ireland has been working hard to improve accessibility of health information and services through our different health & wellbeing programmes, and we are delighted to receive this award in recognition of this work so far.” says Cáit Donnelly, Health & Wellbeing Coordinator, Special Olympics Ireland.
In 2018, 655 athletes were screened through the Healthy Athlete Programme at the Special Olympics Ireland Games in Dublin, where a total 1,375 screenings were conducted. Over 50% of athletes screened did not pass a hearing test, 20% had untreated tooth decay and 86% had flexibility concerns. Based on these results, Special Olympics Ireland continues its mission to improve the lives of people with an intellectual disability living in Ireland on and off the sports field.
“To be a great athlete you need to be a healthy athlete and so we at Special Olympics Ireland are committed to the health of our athletes, and we are honoured to receive the recognition for our work in this area.” said Matt English, Special Olympics CEO.
Special Olympics Healthy Communities initiative is made possible by the Golisano Foundation. Since 2012, Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, have committed $37 million to the Special Olympics global health programme. The goal is to increase access to health, fitness and wellness programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. So far, the Healthy Communities initiative has been activated in 64 countries and has made significant advancements in increasing access to health, fitness and wellness programs for people with intellectual disabilities in the communities in which they live. Special Olympics Ireland is proud to be part of this movement.
Captions: Special Olympics athletes were on hand recently to receive the Healthy Communities Award on behalf of the organisation.
Back row: Edel Armstrong (athlete) Cáit Donnelly (Health & Wellbeing Coordinator Special Olympics Ireland) Patrick Monaghan (athlete) Margaret Turley (athlete) Bernadette Casey (athlete) Kieron Allen (athlete)
Front Row: Lynn Conroy (athlete), Una Hennessy (athlete), Paula Carroll (athlete)
About Special Olympics Ireland
Special Olympics Ireland provides sports training, competition and health & wellbeing opportunities to children and adults with an intellectual disability across Ireland.
There are currently 7,812 athletes training year round in our network of 313 clubs.
Special Olympics Ireland offers a number of Health & Wellbeing programmes, which include:
- Special Olympics Ireland Health Promotion Programme was developed provide user friendly material for people with an intellectual disability. The programme resources consist of a Health Toolkit for the Health Promotion Facilitators (who are volunteers) to deliver different health modules in this Special Olympics Club and an individual Athlete Pack for each athlete who takes part in the programme. The Health Promotion Programme materials have all been designed and developed by people with an intellectual disability specifically for people with an intellectual disability. The Athlete Pack encourages health protective behaviours so athletes feel supported to make healthy choices in everyday choices.
- The Healthy Athletes Programme provides free health screenings and education to Special Olympics athletes while changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Ireland currently offers 7 disciplines within in this programme:
- Health Promotion focuses on healthy living, healthy lifestyle choices around healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, sunscreen etc. Screenings for blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) are also available.
- Healthy Hearing provides hearing exams to athletes to detect ear or hearing problems, recommends follow-up care if needed, and advises about the necessity for regular ear and hearing exams.
- Special Smiles provides comprehensive free dental screening and shows athletes correct brushing and flossing techniques including accessible oral health care information.
- Opening Eyes is changing lives in communities across the globe, providing free eye assessments, prescription eyewear, sunglasses and sports goggles to people with intellectual disabilities.
- FunFitness tests athlete’s flexibility, strength, and balance and offers exercises to improve function in sports training & competition, and to prevent or reduce risk of injury.
- Fit Feet inspects athlete’s motion range and any deformations in their feet and ankles, as well as skin and nail consistency. Shoes and socks are also inspected to fit athletes. Athletes are also educated about choosing the right shoes as well as proper foot and nail care.
- Strong Minds aims to teach athletes exercises and provide resources to increase relaxation and stress management skills.
Interview opportunities available:
Please contact Pamela Kavanagh, Marketing and Communications Manager, Special Olympics Ireland on 085 802 2707 or email pamela.kavanagh@specialolympics.ie
Aug 20, 2019
For the first time the history of the Olympic Games, Ireland will have a Dressage team at Tokyo 2020 after the ‘Girls In Green’ secured Olympic qualification today (Tuesday) after a stunning performance at the Longines FEI European Championships which are taking place at Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The Irish team of Anna Merveldt, Judy Reynolds, Heike Holstein and Kate Dwyer (pictured), finished on a final score of 213.540, to finish second of the eight teams who had been chasing one of the three tickets to Tokyo that were on offer at the final Olympic qualifier for European teams.
Ireland were just outside the Olympic qualifying places when Kildare’s Judy Reynolds entered the arena as last to go with her horse Vancouver K. Under huge pressure, Reynolds delivered a stunning performance to set a new Irish record of 76.351 which guaranteed Ireland a team place at the Olympic Games for the first time ever.
Full report and reaction to follow.
For interviews with Irish riders contact HSI press Officer Brain Hennessy 087 6120717
Aug 20, 2019
Facebook is hosting an ‘Open House for the Sporting Community’, providing an opportunity for sporting organisations and bodies that represent clubs and communities across Ireland to connect with like-minded people, hear from experts on sponsorship and learn how your own organisation can grow with the Facebook family of apps. The event will be advertise to the wider sporting public next week, so if it is of interest to you and your organisation be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment!
Event – ‘Boost with Facebook For Sporting Communities’
Should you have any queries or require any further information, please contact Kayln Sheehan at kalynsheehan@fb.com
Aug 15, 2019
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has this morning welcomed reports that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) will investigate the Irish liability insurance market. Commenting on the development, Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “our members have struggled to understand how their liability premiums have rocketed in the last 5 years while there has been no corresponding increase in either claims or awards. Research we carried out in May showed that on average, liability policyholders experienced an average increase of 204% in their premiums over the last 5 years, closing businesses, making many more unviable and threatening many organisations in the Irish voluntary and community sectors. We would welcome any additional transparency that might give an insight into why this happened.
“Further we urge the Government to move much quicker to publish other long-promised transparency measures on liability insurance like the National Claims Information Database and the Key Information Report on Employer and Public Liability Insurance Claims due at the end of last year. Equally, we would urge the CCPC, if they are progressing this investigation, to include employer liability and well as public liability.”
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridges of Galway and Director of the Alliance said “While we welcome this news, we urge Government and all other interested parties not to get distracted from more immediate reforms. Hard-pressed SMEs and voluntary organisations cannot wait for the years it will take for this investigation to be completed and have an impact. Ireland stands virtually unique in the scale of general damages we hand out for minor injuries. This has had a long-term negative impact on our insurance market and reform of the book of quantum by the promised Judicial Council must happen as a matter of urgency. We urge Minister Flanagan to establish the Judicial Council immediately and not allow vested commercial interests to deflect from the progress or work of the Council”.
ENDS
Aug 1, 2019
Federation of Irish Sport Volunteers in Sport Awards to recognise the contribution of the 450,000 people who ensure sport in Ireland happens each week
- EBS, the Mortgage Masters to sponsor awards as part of a wider campaign celebrating the role of the volunteer;
- 37.2 million hours of volunteering across Ireland’s 14,000+ sports clubs and associations each year;
- An overall winner from each county will be selected as well as one national “team of volunteers” award and a ‘Lifetime’ award;
- Closing date for nominations is Friday, 27 September
- For more information visit www.volunteersinsport.com
Today, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD officially launched the 2019 Volunteer in Sports Awards, alongside Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor.
The Volunteers in Sport Awards were created to recognise the contributions, commitment and dedication of the 450,000 volunteers who give their time to Irish sport every year. This equates to approximately 37.2 million hours of volunteering across Ireland’s 14,000 registered sports clubs and associations across country.
The Federation of Irish Sport recently announced its new partnership with EBS, the Mortgage Masters. The new partnership with EBS has afforded the Federation the opportunity to re-establish the awards for the first time since 2014.
An overall winner from each county will be selected as well as one national “team of volunteers” award. A Lifetime award to honour a volunteer who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded at the ceremony, taking place on Tuesday, 12 November.
Lifetime achievement award
The Lifetime Award will be presented to a volunteer who has consistently given of their time for a sport, team or event over many years. Previous winners of the Lifetime Award include Liam Sheedy, who managed Tipperary to All Ireland Senior success in 2010, Oliver O’Neill, youth coach and father of Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill and Dublin City Marathon organiser Jim Aughney.
How to nominate
Members of the public are invited to nominate an individual whose contribution to their sport has made a real different to their club, community or county. Nominations can be made by individuals, clubs or sporting associations via an online application form at www.volunteersinsport.ie. The deadline for applications is Friday, 27 September, 2019.
Comment
Speaking about the awards, Minister of State Brendan Griffin TD, said:
“It is important to remember that every Irish athlete currently representing their club, county or even country is a result of the hours of passion, dedication and effort that volunteers afforded them each week as they developed as players and athletes. The unparalleled commitment given by these people must be recognised and celebrated. I am delighted to launch these Sport Volunteer Awards and I urge members of the public to nominate an individual whose contribution to sport has made a real difference in their community, whether that is a coach, manager, official or administrator. These unsung heroes deserve to be celebrated and congratulated publicly.”
According to Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport:
“The first Volunteer in Sport Awards were presented in 2007 and were done so to recognise the contribution, commitment and dedication of the volunteers who give so generously of their time to sport and physical activity every year. We are delighted that EBS have partnered with us this year to make this happen for the first time in five years.
“Sport plays a central role in the social fabric of every county, constituency and parish in the country. Sport represents the largest single source of volunteering in Ireland, with over 450,000 people volunteering in sport each week, in the 14,000 sports clubs and associations in Ireland who encompass 1.7 million members”.
“The value of volunteering in sport in Ireland is unimaginable, with an estimated 37.2 million hours of unpaid voluntary work performed every year. It is these people that make sport happen in Ireland, and it is essential they are recognised, and indeed funded to ensure that sporting tradition grows even further on a national and international footing.”
Speaking about the newly established partnership, Des Fitzgerald, CEO of EBS commented;
“EBS is proud to launch an initiative that will recognise everyday heroes without whom sport in Ireland simply would not happen. This army of 450,000 volunteers go above and beyond what is asked of them every day to ensure that children, teenagers and adults remain included, active and competitive in sport.
“They are the coaches, the managers, those who wash the kit, who set up training sessions, who manage fundraising campaigns, who make tea and sandwiches, and who taxi children around their county. They are the people who open the gates to incredible opportunities. We have been involved in communities in Ireland for over 80 years and are delighted to reignite our activity in communities around the country with this unique partnership with The Federation of Irish Sport, with the Volunteer in Sport Awards being the first initiative we will work together on.”
For more information, visit www.volunteersinsport.com
ENDS
Jul 30, 2019
In early July Team Ireland headed to the World University Games in Napoli with a delegation of 75 people including 53 athletes and 22 officials to compete in four sports, Athletics, Archery, Football (Men’s and Women’s) and Taekwondo.
There was plenty of memorable moments during the games with the highlight coming on the track on July 11th as IT Carlow student Marcus Lawler won a bronze medal in the final of the Men’s 200 Metres running a time of 20.55 in the final. On the same night on the track Sarah Lavin (University College Dublin) and Phil Healy (Waterford IT) finished in 4th and 6th respectively in finals also.
The Women’s Football team provided some unforgettable moments during their competition, the highs of defeating Brazil 1-0 on the opening night of competition, defeating South Korea to top the group, before the ultimate heart ache of losing out on penalties to Russia in the Bronze medal game after scuppering a two goal lead with 20 minutes remaining in normal time.
The men’s football team finished in 8th place after a very encouraging group campaign saw them qualify for the quarter finals before they lost out to Russia and ultimately France on penalties in the 7th/8th place play off.
Jack Woolley (TU Dublin) was unable to find his best form in the Taekwondo competition but will gain massive international experience from the competition in Napoli.
On the archery field the highlight was a new senior Irish record for our Mixed team of Niamh Merry (Dublin City University) and Daniel Foley (TU Dublin) in the compound event.
All images credit to Tommy Dickson, Inpho Photography
