Chris counts the days to Special Olympics
Ballina athlete Chris Hendry is counting the days until the start of the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China.
Chris, who will compete in the 100m, 200m and relays, is one of a 166-strong team, the largest ever sent by Special Olympics Australia (SOA) to an overseas Games.
“This team will be the largest Australia has sent to an international competition, and a far cry from their first Games in 1983 when eight athletes represented our country,” said SOA chief executive officer Catriona Barry.
The World Games will run between October 2nd and 11th and will feature more than 7500 athletes from 169 countries, 40,000 volunteers, 3500 event officials and thousands of families, friends, spectators and journalists from every continent.
Among those thousands of family members attending will be Chris’ mum Maryellen, thanks to the generosity of local people.
After a fund-raising drive was mounted to help pay Chris’ way to the Games, another was held to ensure that Maryellen could also attend. A golf day at Wardell last Sunday was the final event in the successful fund-raisers.
Meanwhile, Ms Barry says: “The World Games is about more than just winning. For the athletes, going to Shanghai is about becoming involved, gaining self-esteem and forging friendships for life.
“Giving these athletes the opportunity to represent their country builds their confidence and helps educate the community about intellectual disabilities.
“The athletes’ oath ‘Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’ summarises what we stand for.”
Special Olympics is an international organisation which provides year-round sports training and competition for adults and children with an intellectual disability.
“Our Australian athletes perform strongly in international competition, with many achieving personal bests. At the last World Summer Games in Ireland in 2003, our Australian team brought home 143 medals of which 44 were gold,” Ms Barry said.
The Australian team will fly out from Sydney International Airport on September 27.
To support the Australian World Games team please go to www.specialolympics.com.au and click to donate or call 1300 225 762
