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Stephen gears up for Special Olympics  05.12.08

by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent

MALIN man Stephen McCallion has been chosen as one of the faces for the Special Olympics Regional Games, the Ulster section of which will be held at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny next June.
It will be the first time the Ulster event has been held in this county and the first time as a three day residential games rather that one day event. Over 1000 athletes and coaches from across the province will converge on Letterkenny from the 12th to the 14th of June to take part in athletics, swimming, Basketball and 10-pin bowling.
According Shaun Cassidy, Special Olympics Ireland’s Ulster Regional Director said Stephen was the ideal candidate for a number of reasons.
Stephen McCallion from Malin and Killybegs woman Stephanie Moore will be the public face of next year's Special Olympics regional games in Letterkenny. “Firstly, we wanted to have someone from Donegal, because the event is taking place in Letterkenny, but more than that, Stephen is good looking and charismatic, with excellent people skills and knowledge about the Special Olympics programme. We wanted someone who is confident enough to stand up in front of cameras and crowds and he certainly fits the bill, he has a great pull with people,” said Mr Cassidy.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent, the father of the
20-year old said his son was happy to have been put forward as one of the two faces of Special Olympics in the North West Region.
“Stephen has been involved with Special Olympics in both athletics and basketball, but because you can only compete in one sport at Special Olympics games, he is now concentrating on basketball.” He trains once a week with other people from Donegal and Tyrone and Strabane.
Stephen will have number of engagements over the next few months as Special Olympics Ireland seek some 1500 volunteers on both sides of the border to help run the games next June. Sponsorship is also being sought to run the event.
Mr Cassidy expects that upwards of 7000 people will be in Letterkenny for the games, which are qualifiers for the national games in Limerick next year. The next Special Olympics World Games will be held in Athens in 2011.
“It’s important for guys with intellectual disabilities to achieve. The focus is on their ability and not their disability,” added Mr Cassidy.
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