Next month, 130 Australian athletes will travel to Athens, Greece to compete in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

The athletes have been training hard and all their work is about to pay off as they embark on an athletic venture that will see them compete right in the heart and home of the Olympic Games.

The Special Olympics are for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organisation, Special Olympics Australia, has been running for over 33 years. A volunteer based and not-for-profit organisation, they need help to send over the talented athletes to compete internationally.

Alex McNeilly, general manager – marketing, communications and relations, Special Olympics Australia, told Neos Kosmos without the help and support of volunteers and the families of the athletes, going over to Athens just wouldn’t be possible.

“We have thousands of volunteers across every state and territory in Australia that provide weekly sports, health and education programs for children and adults with an intellectual disability.” The support offered by volunteers is invaluable and the end result worth it.

Greek Australian athlete Peter Zapantis, told Neos Kosmos he was “over the moon about and really looking forward to representing Australia in the Special Olympics in Athens”. Being in Greece, Zapantis will not only represent Australia in the birthplace of the games but also visit family and get in touch with his roots. Zapantis, who will be representing his country in football, plans to stay with relatives in Kefalonia after the games have finished. Zapantis said that he “thinks Australia has a really good chance of bringing home the medals”.

“I’ve just shown Peter his playing uniform,” said Kevin O’Byrne, state manager Victoria, Special Olympics, “that has just arrived by courier and the look on his face says it all. They are official Australian colours, the green and gold with the Australian emblem on the front of the shirt and his surname plastered on the back of the playing shirt, so it’s fantastic.

“Everyone is really excited, it’s not that far away now. We have our uniform try on day next week, a reception at government house, so it’s all really building up. All the hard work, the training, the fundraising is paying off.”

McNeilly said the Greek community have been supportive of the athletes in Australia and the opportunity that the athletes receive is not only benefiting them but also boosting morale for their families. “Last week a mother, the grandmother, the sister, the auntie and the cousins of one of the gymnasts came to see me and brought in lots of lovely Greek food, sweets and yummy cakes,” said McNeilly. “The whole family broke down in tears of joy because their son, who was diagnosed with down syndrome at birth, told me the doctors had said to them, prepare yourself as he won’t accomplish much in life. And now look at him representing Australia wearing the green and gold and doing his best on the world stage and they can’t believe he has been given this opportunity.”

Special Olympics Australia provide weekly sports and training programs every week of the year, in local communities offering 13 sports from tennis to sailing to gymnastics. “This is to improve health, develop social awareness and social development and independent skills, improve vision, hearing, teeth and feet – we do clinical screenings every year so we can monitor the health of Australians with an intellectual disability,” explained McNeilly. “We are trying to drive awareness with people with intellectual disabilities to show with support they can achieve remarkable things.”

With intellectual disability on the rise in Australia, the role the Special Olympics organisation plays is critical. “Most people with an intellectual disability are often ignored and they don’t get the opportunity to achieve their personal best in life. And we find through sport they can excel and build self-esteem and confidence, improve communication skills and social development.

“The problem we have is that people think we are the Paralympics,” explained McNeilly. “The Paralympics get $27 million worth of funding a year and we get nowhere close to that. We have to raise most of our money ourselves through our families and our members across Australia every year to make it happen. “We’re working very hard with lobbying government in every state and federal to say it’s time for change; it’s time for inclusion. We cant’ continue discriminating against people with an intellectual disability who aren’t given the same opportunities as many other Australians.”

If you want to support or volunteer with Special Olympics Australia, visit www.specialolympics.com.au