19 May 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Staff volunteers also to help run major athletics event in CIT this Saturday
Volunteers from EMC’s Cork offices helped raise a total of €35,631 for the Special Olympics following a collection in Cork on 22 April.
The funds, collected by 150 volunteers, will be used to help support the Special Olympics sports programme across Ireland which has nearly 10,000 athletes participating in 15 different sports.
EMC, the IT multinational that employs 3,000 people in Ireland, has been involved with Special Olympics since 2008 and is heavily involved with the athletics competition, as well as badminton, table tennis and soccer.
This Saturday, 40 EMC registered volunteers will help run a major track-and-field event at CIT which is one of Special Olympics largest annual competitions.
More than a hundred Special Olympics athletes from clubs across Munster will be participating in events such as the 100m run, 25m walk, softball throw and standing long jump.
Commenting, Denise O’Riordan, EMC Senior Manager of Global Delivery Operations and Chairperson of the EMC Ireland COE Special Olympics Committee, said: “EMC first became involved with Special Olympics in 2008 and we are delighted to play a continued role in supporting the aspirations of Special Olympics athletes in Cork and across Ireland.
“Our volunteers are looking forward to assisting at the event on Saturday and watching some of Ireland’s most talented athletes compete.”
Eoin O’Beara, Regional Director for Special Olympics Munster, said: “We are really looking forward to our first athletics event of the year on Saturday. It is the first stage of advancement competition that may eventually see some of these athletes competing at the World Games in 2019. Athletes will be representing over 16 clubs across the Munster region who train year round. We are also delighted and grateful to have the support of our EMC volunteers on the day.
“Special Olympics Munster provides a sports programme for over 2,100 athletes through 63 clubs across the province. Through sport, athletes exceed their personal bests on the playing field and in life, consistently pushing the boundaries. Special Olympics empowers athletes to shatter intellectual disability stereotypes.”
