By Tríona Doherty
AIT is preparing to welcome over 100 athletes to its campus next Wednesday for the Special Olympics Connaught track and field competition.
The event, which is the only regional Special Olympics event to take place in Athlone this summer, will feature athletes from Athlone and across Westmeath, as well as counties Roscommon, Longford, and Galway.
It is the second year that AIT’s first class athletics facilities are hosting the Special Olympics athletics event.
From 11am to 4pm, athletes will take part in several events including 100 metre sprints, and distances from 50m to 800m. A ‘turbo’ javelin workshop will also be held by an Athletics Ireland javelin coach to instruct athletes in the new event.
Westmeath footballer Dessie Dolan and AIT president Ciarán Ó Catháin will be on hand to lend their support, start races, and to present awards.
Volunteers on the day include students from local schools St Joseph’s Summerhill and Moate Community College, as well as employees of Abbot in Longford.
The Defence Forces from Custume Barracks, Athlone will provide tentage, radio, and PA systems for the event.
A spokesperson for Special Olympics Connaught said the organisation were very grateful to AIT management and staff for the warm welcome extended to them.
“We are very thankful to the college for all their help, they have been very accommodating.”
He added that the proposed development of AIT’s sports facilities to include an indoor track, as well as Professor Ó Catháin’s involvement with Athletics Ireland were further incentives to bring Special Olympics events to Athlone.
