Timothy Shriver Officially Opens Headquarters in Dublin, IRELAND

Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics Inc., the world’s largest sport program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, was joined by Special Olympics athletes and staff as he officially opened the Dublin-based headquarters of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE).

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia recently moved its headquarters from Brussels to Dublin, following the appointment of Mary Davis, Managing Director and former CEO of Special Olympics Ireland.  The organization oversees Special Olympics national programs in 58 countries across Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia and is currently seeking to secure 15 million Euros from the European Commission.  The funds are to financially support the development of Special Olympics in the 27 Member States, to assist in hosting the Special Olympic European Games which are to be held in Warsaw in 2010 and the Special Olympics World Summer Games which are to be held in Athens in the year 2011.

According to Shriver: “There are approximately 26.5 million people with an intellectual disability in the Europe/Eurasia region.  Special Olympics works with half a million athletes of those to date, so we see a huge potential for growth in, not only involving more athletes, but also changing attitudes and accessing resources for programs that make a positive impact on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Davis served as CEO of the successful Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003, the largest sporting event in the world that year.  “We are confident that with Mary Davis we have the right person to drive this movement in the region and we are excited about the new opportunities for growth ahead of us even in these more challenging times,” Shriver said. 

Shriver also took time during his visit to Ireland to meet athletes, coaches, volunteers and parents at the Ballymun Swimming Club in Dublin.

Photo: Timothy Shriver, CEO and Chairman of Special Olympics Inc. was in Dublin on Tuesday, June 2nd to celebrate with Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe / Eurasia, athletes, staff members and volunteers the establishment in Dublin of the official headquarters of SOEE. (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics).