Bath 2013 Special Olympics now just days away
The largest sports event in the UK for people with intellectual disabilities is now just days away from getting underway in Bath for the first time.
The University of Bath is proud to be the main host venue for the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games. The Opening Ceremony takes place at the Royal Crescent in Bath on Wednesday 27 August and the sport begins at the University of Bath the following day.
Some 1700 athletes from England, Scotland and Wales will compete in 12 sports over three days at the Games.
Nine of those sports – athletics, badminton, boccia, carpet bowls, five-a-side football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis and tennis are being held at the University of Bath. Spectators can come along to watch for free.
The event, which is held every four years, is organised by Special Olympics GB, the largest registered charity providing year round sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual (learning) disabilities
The National Summer Games is the showpiece event for the organisation and its athletes. Almost 1.2 million people in the UK (2 per cent of the population) have an intellectual disability.
Karen Wallin CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: “We’re nearly there now and the 1,700 athletes and 600 coaches are really excited about the prospect of heading to the University of Bath for our 2013 National Summer Games.
“We are all looking forward to making use of the high quality sports facilities on site as well as staying together on campus during the Games,” she added. “We are tremendously grateful to the University of Bath for making Special Olympics GB so welcome and providing an environment in which every single athlete can achieve their best.
Professor Kevin Edge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University at the University of Bath, said: “The University of Bath is proud to be the main host venue for the 2013 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games.
“The University has some of the best sports facilities in the country and they have already attracted some of the finest athletes and teams from around the world to train here.
“I hope Special Olympics athletes, organisers, volunteers and supporters enjoy their time in Bath and above all that they take home some very happy memories from the Games.”
The University of Bath has a strong track record in hosting major events and sports teams. In 1995 the University of Bath hosted the European Youth Olympic Festival, followed in 2004 by the British University Games. The campus played host to the British Transplant Games in 2006 and 2010 and jointly hosted the UK School Games in 2008.
The University also hosted the main ParalympicsGB preparation camp ahead of the London 2012 Paralympics Games, as well as athletes and teams from China, Egypt, Libya, Malaysia and Russia in the build up to the London 2012 Olympics.
For further information please go to the Special Olympics page on the Team Bath website
For full event details please see the Bath 2013 event website You can also visit the Special Olympics GB website at http://www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk/
You can find out more about Team Bath on our website teambath.com
You can also follow Team Bath on Twitter at twitter.com/teambath or facebook.com/teambath
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.
