Statement on EU Funding

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) has achieved a major milestone in securing approval of six million Euros in funding from the budget committee of the European Parliament.

The organisation, which provides year-round sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities across Europe, is confident that the six million Euro funding will receive further approval at the plenary session of the full Parliament and ultimately, due to the co decision process, final approval from the Council of Europe in the coming weeks.
According to Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia:  “We are greatly encouraged to receive this funding, particularly in the present economic climate. It is a very positive step forward and marks the European Union taking into account the importance of sports for the development and well being of people with intellectual disabilities, and thereby supporting member-state actions in this field”.
Special Olympics Europe/ Eurasia is extremely grateful for the unanimous support given by members of the European Parliament and in particular from the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek who personally committed his support to Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia during his visit to SOEE Dublin Headquarters last month.

The EU funding has been earmarked to financially support the development of Special Olympics across the 27 Member States as well as to assist with the hosting of the 2010 Special Olympics European Games which are to be held in Warsaw, Poland and the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Athens, Greece.

Photo: President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek during a visit to Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia headquarters on 8 September is presented with a book on Special Olympics athletes by Mary Davis, SOEE Managing Director. Credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE