South Gloucestershire Council's help for athletes at Special Olympics (From Gazette Series)

South Gloucestershire Council's help for athletes at Special Olympics

9:20am Saturday 27th June 2009 in

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SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is helping a team of athletes go for gold at the Special Olympics this summer.

The authority has donated £1,000 to pay for new sports kit for the 11 swimmers and footballers, with learning difficulties who will be heading for Leicester this July to compete.

The athletes are all involved with Bristol and South Gloucestershire Union of Disability Sports.

The competitors will be among more than 2,700 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the country, competing in a range of Olympic-style sports competitions.

Cllr Matthew Riddle, South Gloucestershire Council’s executive member for community care and housing, presented the money to Sharon Langley of Little Stoke, whose son, swimmer Adam Osborne, is one of the athletes taking part.

Cllr Riddle said: "The council is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to take part in physical activity and sport and achieve to their highest level.

"We run regular leisure activities for adults with learning difficulties, a multi-skills sports club for young people with disabilities, and make sure disability events are included in the South Gloucestershire Festival of Youth Sport.

"These athletes have worked extremely hard to get to the Special Olympics and we are impressed by their efforts and their talent.

"We are delighted to be able to support them in this way. We are sure they will do South Gloucestershire proud."

Anyone wanting to support the team should contact Sharon Langley on 0117 969 4865.

The Special Olympics run from July 25 to July 31. For more information visit www.sol2009.com