Special Olympics athletes 'so proud' to represent Team Ulster

Special Olympics athletes representing the Ulster region have come home from the Ireland Games with a record-breaking 229 medals, the highest number they have ever won in the all-island competition.

Almost 100 athletes were welcomed home with a special event at Stormont on Thursday.

One athlete, Jenna Thevanau, who is originally from South Africa but moved to Northern Ireland and competed in the equestrian programme, said: "I feel like I'm in my own new home in Ireland."

Her sister, Candace Street, who emigrated to Northern Ireland three years ago and now works for Special Olympics, said athletes like Jenna being able to compete in programmes like this "gives them a sense of purpose".

The 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games will take place next October in Santiago, Chile.

Special Olympics Ireland games are held every four years, but this year's event was the first since 2018 as one that was due to happen in between was cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

Thevanau said: "I'm proud and meeting new friends and getting to know people more and doing what I love."

"I'm very happy that I've got all my family here supporting me for the competition. It was my first time competing so I was nervous, but it's much nicer having them here and I'm really happy with the result."

"I think we feel very blessed that there's a programme like this in Northern Ireland," Street told BBC News NI.

"People here are actually really lucky at how much there is to offer, especially for vulnerable and intellectual disability adults and children.

"Jenna would watch the Olympics and she would never have thought that it's something she could ever do or ever think that she could be part of and this gives them the opportunity to be part of something.

Street said the Special Olympics means people are "able to achieve what they can within themselves, within their abilities which is absolutely wonderful".

Claire O'Neill, 28, from Lisburn won silver and gold medals in badminton.

She said she performed "really well" but it was "really tough".

O'Neill paid tribute to all her coaches and volunteers at Lisburn Racquets Club for putting her out there to achieve such success.

Aged in his early 50s, Eamonn Brummitt from County Monaghan won gold and bronze medals in table tennis.

He said competing in the Ireland Games was a "great experience" and he "loved it from start to finish".

Brummitt said he hopes to go on and do the Special Olympics next year "if I'm picked".

He said it was "great" that such a huge event was being thrown for the team at Stormont.

"I've never been here before, it's been a great experience."

Jackie Stewart, who's 48 and from Downpatrick, won gold and silver medals in bocce - a version of bowls.

She said she felt "brilliant" about how she did at the Ireland games.

"I'm so proud, I hope I get picked for next year."

Adam Matchett, 18, from Belfast won fifth place in gymnastics.

He said he did "quite decent" at the Ireland Games and it was "amazing" that the event was being thrown to welcome home all the athletes.

Matchett said he is "so excited" and "can't wait" to go on to compete in the Special Olympics next year.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons took part in the event and welcomed the Team Ulster athletes on the steps of Stormont.

He said it was "really important to recognise hard work and the incredible accomplishments of those that are taking part".

"We wanted to host this event to show that we recognise the hard work, the determination that went into it, and to promote sport as well."

Lyons said the Special Olympics was "really important" to sport because "we want sport to be inclusive".

"Sport is something that is for everybody, everybody can benefit from it and today is another reminder of that – of just how important it is and the benefits that it can bring to people," Lyons said.