Penny Stafford

The York Special Olympic team’s return to the city on Saturday was reported by the local newspaper:

Special feat of York glory

Here are three short video clips from our week at the Special Olympics:

Adam came fourth in his group in the boccia singles competion.

Adam and his team members Jeremy and Paul won gold medals in the boccia team event.

Adam, Eleanor and Penny enjoyed the closing party held in Abbey Park.

The Special Olympics was awesome. The opening ceremony was unbelievable. All us athletes from all over the country paraded round the stadium with thousands and thousands of people watching and cheering.

Then Gordon and Sarah Brown came and shook hands with some of the athletes but I didn’t get to meet them. But guess who I met on the Wednesday – Gary Lineker!! and dad took a photo of me and him together.

The boccia venue was really good, and every time the team arrived we got cheered in by the volunteers.

It was at a Hindu centre, and everyone was really friendly and welcoming. After the award ceremony when I got my gold medal the centre volunteers gave us all a special memento postcard from the centre and tied a special wrist band on all of us which is a Hindu custom for their festival this week when sisters tie a thread on their brothers wrist to wish them a good future.  When the team arrived back in York none of us knew but it had been arranged for the 19 athletes and the coaches from York to parade the city centre on a open top bus it was a big surprise for us all and people in the town were cheering us.

It was a very special week and I am very proud of being part of the team and of course my gold medal.

You can see more pictures from the Special Olympics on the gallery.

Today Adam has been spending time at the Games Village.  The highlight has been a chance meeting with Gary Lineker.  Adam bumped into Gary as he was leaving the village adn we got Gary to pose for a photograph – we will post it later.

The opening ceremony on Saturday was “awesome” says Adam.  As well as the atheltes entrance it included fireworks, a carnival of fabulas animals and the lighting of the olympic flame after the torch was carried in.  Pictures and news of the event are on the official Special Olympics web site http://www.sol2009.com

Adam says he is having a wonderful time.  He has completed his single boccia matches and is looking forward to the team matches later in the week.  We will post more news when we can.

Adam and other members of York’s Special Olympics squad were present on Tuesday at York’s Mansion House to receive another donation.

This will all go towards making the event in Leicester a wonderful experience for everyone involved.