The National Lottery caught up with Grace Mulligan, who is Corporate Partnerships, trusts and Foundations Manager with Special Olympics Ireland on representing Ireland on a world stage and upcoming events.
What makes the Special Olympics so special?
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with an intellectual disability. More than 100,000 local, regional and national Special Olympics events are held around the world each year. However, our key international events are the summer and winter World Games, which come around every four years. Special Olympics is recognised by the International Olympic Committee, but Special Olympics World Games are not held in the same year as the Olympic Games.
What is its presence in Ireland like?
Special Olympics Ireland (SOI) is the national governing body for sport for people with an intellectual disability on the Island of Ireland. It supports 7,000 athletes across 260 clubs and provides a range of programmes alongside year-round competitions and events to ensure that people with an intellectual disability can participate in sport in the community, develop their skills, connect with others, and grow their confidence.
Okay, but why is that important?
There are almost 110,000 people in Ireland with an intellectual disability. The limited available services and supports in this area means people with intellectual disabilities are at a disproportionately greater risk of developing mental and physical health conditions like depression, anxiety, and obesity.
As a vulnerable minority group, feelings of stigma, isolation, and loneliness can be compounded by the lack of access to physical activity, a lack of socialisation, fewer opportunities to develop and a limited knowledge of nutrition. Special Olympics offers sports and wellness programmes to any person with an intellectual disability aged four and above.
How does a National Lottery player’s contribution make a difference?
Players of the National Lottery make it possible for us to continue to offer programmes across a wide array of sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, kayaking, swimming and table tennis.
This isn’t just about developing an athlete’s skills at one particular sport, it’s about providing them with avenues for growth, independence, and connection to others. Part-funding from the National Lottery through Sport Ireland has had a profound effect on the physical and mental wellbeing of thousands of people with an intellectual disability around Ireland.
And some of them get to represent Ireland on the world stage?
In 2023, some 73 Team Ireland athletes took their place among 7,000 athletes from across the globe competing at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. Supported by hundreds of family and friends who had travelled to the German capital, and more than 7,000 Special Olympics teammates cheering them on from home, the team won an incredible 75 medals, including 24 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze.
That must have been an incredible experience for them…
Some athletes had never spent a night away from home, so spending more than a week in a team setting gave them a whole new sense of independence and life skills. Indeed, Emma Costelloe, who was a gold medallist in the track and field 400m event and a silver medallist in the long jump, said: “I’ve made new friends and it’s been great to be part of a team. I’d tell everyone to get on board and take the opportunity to be part of Special Olympics. It’s changed my life.”
When is the next big event?
The World Winter Games take place in Turin in 2025, with more than 1,500 athletes from more than 100 countries making the journey to northern Italy to compete.
And Special Olympics Ireland will be represented?
Ireland will have teams competing in the alpine skiing and floorball competitions, with a total 14 athletes travelling to represent the country.
Great that players of the National Lottery can make such an impact…
One hundred percent. The players are not just making the transformation of individual athletes possible, they are transforming society for the better.
