The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games came to a spectacular close in Athens on Tuesday night marking the end of the sporting event.
7,500 athletes from 185 countries, including 130 Australian athletes, celebrated the closing at the historic Panathenaic Stadium, the home of the modern Olympics, with a massive celebration of achievement as athletes let their hair down after ten days of competition and global friendship.
In a time of political unrest for Greece, Special Olympics Chairman and CEO, Tim Shriver sent this message to the people of Greece: “You did an amazing job. The athletes had a great time. I can truly say that Greece has outdone itself. From this time on, millions of people worldwide have found out the meaning of Special Olympics. My mother would be very proud if she were here.”
The Australian team will bring home 115 gold medals. Among them, Greek Australian athlete Daniel Tsatsaronis, as part of the bowling team, won gold.
