Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This sunny evening in July is a good moment to talk about something we all appreciate, although we often do not realise how much we appreciate it.

It is hard to find words to thank the people who have been involved in Special Olympics, as Senator Eamonn Coghlan said, some for many years but particularly in the past ten years as the movement has built up and become ingrained in our consciousness and rooted in our communities. Of course, Special Olympics is a local, a community, a national and an international event. It draws its strength from all of these places, each and every time somebody steps out.

Like most Senators, I am invited to many events and, like many Senators, one of the moments I will treasure was being asked to present medals to people taking part in Special Olympics in the swimming pool in Sligo. I was really honoured to be asked to do so and the memories will stay with me of the huge pleasure and joy the participants took from the event. Whether they were swimming 5 yd. or 25, I will always remember the effort, joy and enthusiasm they brought to it, with their families.
The Irish Timesstaff photographer, Brenda Fitzsimons, recalled her time at the Special Olympics events at the Kill Equestrian Centre. She said:

The first time I approached the arena I noticed that there was complete silence and I thought to myself “well there's nothing happening here.” But when I got there, it was full of spectators. Instead of clapping their hands and cheering, they waved their hands in the air so that they would not frighten the horses. Witnessing that would have tugged at anyone's heart strings. It even seemed like the horses were protecting the riders, they moved about so carefully. The whole thing just oozed with love and care. It was special in every sense of the word and it was definitely one of the most emotional jobs I've ever done.

In that, I think, she speaks for all of us.

What is important about Special Olympics is that it has the capacity to connect people with each other. Speaking, as I had the pleasure to do before this event started, with Jim Kelly and his son, James, he spoke about how he had become involved and how, perhaps, at the moment when he might have said "No" to somebody, he said "Yes". I do not believe he regrets one moment of his involvement and he should be very proud of it. That is the point. It has had the capacity to reach out, in the first instance, to those athletes who want to perform, compete, enjoy and have fun but also to connect with a whole host of others also - their parents with other parents and volunteers with other volunteers.

It is, of course, much more than a sports event. It is a movement. It is a kind of social movement that brings out the best in all of us. At times, I suppose we are, as Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú said, a nation of moaners. However, when one looks at the figures and sees the enormous involvement people in Ireland have had which is much higher than in many other countries, one sees that there is, in the spirit here, enormous generosity on the part of people who want to get involved and will take part at different levels in their community in assisting others. I particularly pay tribute to the clubs in the Connacht region from where I come and to the adults and children who take part for the efforts they make locally to raise the profile of Special Olympics and spending their spare time raising money and training and supporting young people and adults to take part in sports. As Senator Jillian van Turnhout said, these are the sports we would never have envisaged ourselves taking part in when we were young and it is great to see such a wide range on offer.

Special Olympics is a movement that empowers people. It empowers the athletes, but it also empowers their parents, friends and community to see that much more can be achieved from whatever we are given as human beings. There is always an extra little bit we can go, an extra step we can try to take, another challenge we can set ourselves. The many challenges people have set for themselves and achieved through Special Olympics are evidence of the great capacity of life and our capacity as humans to live it to the full. That is very enriching for any of us to enjoy and share.

Of course, Special Olympics empowers all of us who have ever taken part in any way. It empowers us as a community and a nation. For me, these are the three things the movement has brought - the connecting, the rewarding and the empowering. There is no way in which anybody could put a price-tag on this. As Senator Eamonn Coghlan pointed out, it is difficult to realise that a movement that is capable of all of these things can find itself struggling for money. It is not just the Minister of State but all of us here today who are saying we all want this to change. We do not want to see the capacity and capability of Special Olympics being reduced in any way, shape or form because what it does is priceless. I know there are debts and that Special Olympics Ireland needs new premises, which is a problem for it. Like any organisation, however, there will always be hiccups and financial difficulties.

I commend my colleague, Senator Mary Moran, for bringing forward the motion in order that we can celebrate and acknowledge the work done. I do not think, in any way, shape or form, she could be accused of providing any type of smokescreen or piggybacking on anything else. It is just a moment to say this is good but also that we have to acknowledge and keep it. It is not simply just to treasure it but to grow it and acknowledge the great impact it has on all our lives. Whether we are part of a family, like the Kellys, the Morans and many thousands of others across Ireland, or individuals who have been touched in some small way or another, we must grow and appreciate it, not just treasure it.