Tulloch Sponsors Highland team for Special Olympics
27th July 2009
Sponsorship by Tulloch Homes will enable the largest ever Highland squad for the Special Olympics being held in Leicester later this month.
A 110-strong group will set out from Inverness for the opening ceremony at which is already a 30,000 all-ticket sellout at Leicester City FC's Walkers Stadium on Saturday, July 25.
Janet Home, Inverness, head of delegation for the Highland group, said:"Our competitors have been training for months to gain selection for the Special Olympics and those chosen are thrilled as their big day nears.
"We couldn't have taken such a substantial squad without the tremendous generosity of our sponsor, which is why the team kit and track suits are all branded as Tulloch Team Highland -- as our way of saying thanks to Tulloch chairman David Sutherland.
"David and his wife Anne have shown genuine interest in the spirit and purpose behind the Special Olympics.
"We're taking 75 competitors and 35 coaches -- easily our biggest squad -- and preparation has been intensive but successful. We were thrilled to win 75 medals at the last Special Olympics in Glasgow -- and with a bigger team we're hopeful of exceeding that total this time."
Lesley Jones, Inverness, is assistant head of delegation while Sue Banks and Charlie Forbes are respectively female and male team managers, who head up a core of eight head coaches in various sports, who oversee 21 support coaches.
Tulloch Team Highland are taking part in athletics, swinning, football, bowls, badminton, golf, boccia and tenpin bowling. The Games will have 4500 contestants and 1500 coaches with 21 different sports, with teams from 19 regions of the UK.
David Sutherland said:"We sponsored the team for the Glasgow Special Olympics and were delighted to do so again this time and to facilitate the team being larger than ever before.
"Having had the opportunity to meet some of the competitors, I've been greatly impressed by their commitment to being as prepared as possible to take part in what is the most deserving of sporting spectaculars. And their coaches and support squad deserve creat credit."
England rugby world cup winning captain Martin Johnson and Leicester's soccer legend Gary Lineker will be Games Patrons at the opening ceremony along with Games Ambassadors, sprinter Darren Campbell and England goalkeeper David James.
The Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Schriver, sister of the late President John F Kennedy, aims to help people with intellectual disabilities to develop self confidence, social skills and a sense of personal achievement through sport.