MEP Gallagher welcomes EU support for the Special Olympics

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has welcomed the decision of the European Parliament to provide financial assistance to the European Special Olympics movement.

"The European Parliament this week adopted the EU budget for 2010. Under the EU budget, the European Special Olympics, which is headquartered in Ireland, was allocated EUR 6 million."

"The Special Olympics is Europe's largest sport programme for children and adults with an intellectual disability. The decision of the European Parliament is great news for all athletes and families involved in the Special Olympics in Ireland and in Europe."

"EU financial assistance for the Special Olympics will enable the organisation to continue and expand its good work. The Special Olympics movement has transformed many lives of intellectually disabled athletes in Ireland and in Europe."

"When Ireland hosted the 2003 World Special Olympics, it was a unique moment, which has left a long lasting effect upon the Irish people."

"The allocation of funding under the EU budget will enable the European Special Olympics based in Ireland to help co-finance the staging of the European Special Olympics in Warsaw, Poland in 2010 and to undertake preparatory actions for the World Special Olympics in Athens, Greece in 2011.

"The EU has also provided the European Special Olympics a separate EUR 0.5 million under the EU sports programme for 2009. This funding will support an initiative that will encourage the disabled and non-disabled to play together at schools level"

ENDS