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23/07/2003
Minister praises Special Olympians
NIO Minister, Angela Smith has paid tribute to the Northern Ireland athletes who competed in the Special Olympics World Summer Games held earlier this summer.
At a reception hosted in Parliament Buildings to honour the athletes, the Minister told them that their dedication, enthusiasm and talent, had made a huge contribution to the success of the Games.
Speaking to her Special guests, she said: "Everyone in Northern Ireland should be proud of your achievements. The Special Olympics were the single biggest sporting event held in the world this year. This was also the first time the Games had been staged outside the USA. There was therefore a huge responsibility on everyone involved to ensure that the event was a success. The athletes who took part were key to that success and you all played your part in full."
The Minister said that experience shared by those who took part had provided an "invaluable" experience to all.
"I know that the Northern Ireland members of Team Ireland came home with gold, silver and bronze medals, and my hearty congratulations to the medal winners. But every athlete achieved a tremendous goal in simply making the team, and I am in no doubt that every one of you is a winner," she concluded.
(MB)
At a reception hosted in Parliament Buildings to honour the athletes, the Minister told them that their dedication, enthusiasm and talent, had made a huge contribution to the success of the Games.
Speaking to her Special guests, she said: "Everyone in Northern Ireland should be proud of your achievements. The Special Olympics were the single biggest sporting event held in the world this year. This was also the first time the Games had been staged outside the USA. There was therefore a huge responsibility on everyone involved to ensure that the event was a success. The athletes who took part were key to that success and you all played your part in full."
The Minister said that experience shared by those who took part had provided an "invaluable" experience to all.
"I know that the Northern Ireland members of Team Ireland came home with gold, silver and bronze medals, and my hearty congratulations to the medal winners. But every athlete achieved a tremendous goal in simply making the team, and I am in no doubt that every one of you is a winner," she concluded.
(MB)
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