Four Mayo athletes compete in Special Olympics

Four Mayo athletes will compete in Special Olympics World Games in Athens


Four Mayo athletes flew out to Athens yesterday to take part in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Mary McDermott from Swinford, Deirdre Gannon (pictured) from Westport, Deirdre Garvin from Claremorris and Paul Kavanagh from Castlebar will all compete in the games, which get under way in the Greek capital this coming Saturday.
In total, 124 athletes will represent Ireland, with a total of 7,500 athletes from 185 nations due to take part. The games will will be the biggest sporting event in the world this summer.
Mary McDermott will compete in the bocce event, Deirdre Gannon and Deirdre Garvin will both take part in bowling, while Paul Kavanagh will participate in table tennis.
A further two Mayo people will travel as official delegates. Frank Vahey from Ballinrobe will be coach-chaperone in aquatics, while Linda Heraty will be coach-chaperone in bocce.
Team Ireland will spend a number of days this week on the island of Rhodes as part of the Host Town programme before going to Athens for Saturday’s opening ceremony. The competition begins in earnest on Sunday and will run until Monday, July 4. Team Ireland will return home the following day.