|
The 8th Special Olympics GB National Summer Games was held in Leicester between the 25 and 31 July 2009. Over 2,400 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the UK have visited the city of Leicester over the seven-day period along with 1,200 coaches and 1,500 volunteers. 2,422 athletes have competed in 21 Olympic style competitions across the city. Sailing was held at Rutland Sailing Centre and Kayaking have taken place at the Anglian Water Site. Leicestershire County Cricket Club were used for Kwik Cricket. Walkers Stadium, home of Leicester City Football Club, was also used for the Opening Ceremony and the Games Village. There are some of the sporting venues hosted the 2009 Games, including Abbey Park (cycling), New College (gymnastics), Hollywood Bowl (ten pin bowling) and Saffron Lane Sports Stadium (athletics). Leicester's landscape has changed dramatically since the city first hosted the Games in 1989. From the rich diversity of its population, to the magnificent ongoing 3 billion regeneration programme, Leicester was a city rising to the challenge on many fronts. The city of Leicester have also recruited about 1,500 volunteers to participate in the Games. A host of celebrities have already offered up their support to the Games next year including Martin Johnson, Gary Lineker, Leicester Tigers, Leicester City FC, and Leicestershire CCC. ==About Special Olympics GB== Special Olympics National Summer Games is part of Special Olympics GB. Special Olympics is a global organisation that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 2.25 million children and adults with learning disabilities across the globe. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the late President John F Kennedy in 1968, Special Olympics provides people with learning disabilities opportunities to realise their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) is the major provider of sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability and provides equality of opportunity for all athletes regardless of ability or degree of disability. In February 1988, the IOC, the umbrella organization of the Olympic movement, officially recognised Special Olympics as the third Olympic movement alongside the Olympics and Paralympics. SOGB was established in 1978 as part of Special Olympics Inc. SOGB is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee and presently offer opportunities to more than 8000 children and adults with a learning disability and will work to expand opportunities to reach a further 10,000 individuals by 2010. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Special Olympics Leicester」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|