Team Ireland Set to Take on the World

14 athletes from Ireland will set off from Dublin Airport today to take up their place at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The Games which will run from 29th January to 5th February, will take place in PyeongChang in South Korea.

Team Ireland comprises of 14 athletes; 6 of whom will compete in the Alpine skiing (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G) competition and a team of 8 who will take part in the floorball event. Team Ireland will be accompanied at the Games by a management team of volunteer coaches and medical personnel who have been working closely with the athletes over the past number of months to ensure that they are fit and ready to take on the World in South Korea!

The 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be one of the biggest winter sports events to take place in the World this year. The Games will feature more than 3,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches from more than 100 countries who will compete in seven Olympic-type sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, short track speed skating, figure skating, floor hockey and floorball.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD was amongst the first to wish Team Ireland well at the Games "I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish everybody associated with the Irish team every success as they embark on their travels to the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. I know that each of the 14 athletes representing Ireland in PyeongChang will compete with immense pride and will enjoy the competition, the unique experience and the honour of representing their country. Their preparation for the Game has involved a huge effort on all their parts which I hope will bear fruit in the form of outstanding performances, enjoyable competition and life enhancing experience for all".

Speaking ahead of Team Ireland's departure, Matt English, CEO Special Olympics Ireland said "Team Ireland has already achieved so much by getting to compete at World Games level and I know that they will be fantastic ambassadors for Ireland in South Korea. Every member of the Team has shown great dedication to their training and sport over the past number of months and I am sure that these preparations will pay off at the Games. I would like to wish the athletes and their coaches all the very best and let them know that we, their biggest fans, will be keeping a very close eye on their progress in South Korea!"

John Treacy, Chief Executive, Irish Sports Council said "On behalf of the Irish Sports Council I want to wish Team Ireland every success at the World Winter Games in Korea. The athletes always represent Ireland with distinction and bring great honour to the country. I hope that they enjoy the experience. They have been training hard and are very well prepared for the big competition ahead. That preparation owes a great deal to the local clubs, volunteers and family members who offer so much support to the athletes as they build up to competition. It is very exciting that Floorball is now on the event programme as it growing in popularity in Ireland, good luck to our athletes in that event who are real pioneers for the discipline. Special Olympics Ireland, as is now customary, has done an exemplary job with Team Ireland and I want to congratulate them on their work."

Nick Harkness, Acting Chief Executive, Sport NI said "As one of the first major world sporting events of 2013, the Special Olympics World Winter Games will give participants from across the world an opportunity to showcase their abilities on the world stage. The talents, skills and dedication of the athletes of the Special Olympics will remind us what the World Games are really about - all participants are winners in their fight for respect, inclusion and unity.It gives me great pleasure to support the 14 athletes and the 8 members of the management team representing Team Ireland in South Korea, and in particular, to the three skiers selected from the Ulster region - Lucy Best from Lisburn, Rosalind Connelly from Portadown and Ryan Hill from Richill. We send them all best wishes from Sport Northern Ireland and hope that all the athletes enjoy their experience on the World stage and perform to the best of their ability in PyeongChang. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences and welcoming them home".

For news and updates of Team Ireland's progress at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games please visit: www.specialolympics.ie/wintergames