European Youth Games
The first European Youth Games to take place in Rome 30th September - 5th October 2006
The first ever Special Olympic European Youth Games for athletes between the ages of 12 - 21 will take place from 28th September to 6th October, 2006. The games will feature 1,400 athletes from 57 different countries. The games slogan is 'get ready to play'.
Team GB EYG 2006
The Great Britain Team total is 44. The team is made up of 30 athletes, 12 coaches & 2 management staff. Great Britain will take part in the sports of Athletics (West Midlands & Wales), Gymnastics (Southern & North West), Swimming (West Midlands & South East) and Ten Pin Bowling (Tayside). Athletes are nominated and selected based on their regular training committments, competition history and ambassadorial qualities.
Team List
GYMNASTICS SQUAD 
| Team No. |
1st Name |
Surname |
From |
| 1 | Samantha |
Godel |
Jersey |
| 2 | Harry |
Smale |
Jersey |
| 3 | Douglas |
Mauger |
Jersey |
| 4 | Clare |
Poole |
Crewe |
| 5 | Rachel |
Fairhurst |
Warrington |
| 6 | Michael |
Hughes |
Runcorn |
| 7 H/C | John |
Grady |
Jersey |
| 8 Coach | Jane |
Whetnall |
Crewe |
| 9 Coach | Andrew |
Shard |
Runcorn |
SWIMMING SQUAD
| Team No. |
1st Name |
Surname |
From |
| 10 | Matthew |
Daykin |
Redditch |
| 11 | Daniel |
Whitmore |
Redditch |
| 12 | Amy |
Rowley |
Redditch |
| 13 | Jessica |
Geier |
Bromsgrove |
| 14 | Sarah |
Casey |
Erith |
| 15 | Laura |
Mitchell |
Orpington |
| 16 | Joseph |
Peciuch |
London |
| 17 | Peter |
Faithfull |
London |
| 18 Coach | Russell |
Whitmore |
Redditch |
| 19 Coach | Lesley |
Andrews |
Kiddeminster |
| 20 H/C | Caroline |
Gray |
Sidcup |
ATHLETICS SQUAD
| Team No. |
1st Name |
Surname |
From |
| 21 | Fiona |
Clarke |
Birmingham |
| 22 | Amelia |
Martin |
Worcestershire |
| 23 | Kirsty |
Venn |
Oswestry |
| 24 | Ben |
O'Brien |
Bromsgrove |
| 25 | Gwilliam |
Jones |
Oswestry |
| 26 | Alexander |
Edmonds |
Oswestry |
| 27 | Stephen |
Morris |
Cardiff |
| 28 | James |
Howells |
Llanelli |
| 29 H/C | David |
O'Brien |
Bromsgrove |
| 30 Coach | Valerie |
Hanover |
Oswestry |
| 31 Coach | Mike |
Harrison |
Swansea |
TEN PIN BOWLING SQUAD 
| Team No. |
1st Name |
Surname |
From |
| 32 | Sarah |
Anderson |
Carnoustie |
| 33 | Siobhan |
McCormack |
Dundee |
| 34 | Emma |
Stewart |
Brechin |
| 35 | Karen | McDonald |
Forfar |
| 36 | Brett |
Isaacs |
Carnoustie |
| 37 | Derek |
Buik | Dundee |
| 38 | Martin | Cassidy |
Kirriemuir |
| 39 | Duncan |
Reid |
Arbroath |
| 40 H/C | Kim |
Dalgarno |
By Glamis |
| 41 Coach | Evelyn | Smith |
Forfar |
| 42 Coach | Steven |
Baxter |
Dundee |
TEAM MANAGEMENT
| Team No. |
1st Name |
Surname |
From | |
| AHOD 43 |
Jed |
Renilson |
Jedburgh | Assistant Team Manager |
| HOD 44 |
Laura |
Smith |
By Glamis |
Team Manager |
The Team Managers
Head of Delegation, Laura Smith and Assistant Head of Delegation Jed Renilson are now counting down to the team's departure in September. Both have been involved in Special Olympics in various roles, Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager, Head Coach & coach at National, European and World Games for a number of years, to long to mention! Laura & Jed are looking forward to being part of the team.
We need your Support
As the organisation is unable to pay to send the team to represent GB at this event, each team member has to look to raise £550 to pay for flights, team training and kit. We are therefore looking to corporates and individuals to help us fundraise towards these costs.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the team of making a donation towards an athletes costs please contact Karen Wallin at Special Olympics GB Tel 0207 696 5569 karen.wallin@sogb.org.uk
NB No athlete would be omitted from the team for inability to pay.
Media
All enquiries & registrations : Please contact Jane Silverman/Karen Wallin
Tel: 0207 696 5569 jane.silverman@sogb.org.uk karen.wallin@sogb.org.uk
Accommodation for media - see below.
Opening Ceremonies
The Opening Ceremony The opening ceremonies will take place on September 30, 2006, in the splendid "Stadio dei Marmi" at Rome's Foro Italico. It will be part of the event which will introduce the European Youth Games and will officially welcome all the participants, in particular the 1,500 special athletes, who will arrive from 57 European and Eurasian countries and which will be involved in this splendid initiative. The ceremony will include the parade of the athletes and the arrival of the torch. The torch itself will have left Patras, Greece, and will have made its way through all the towns of the Lazio region to announce the start of the Special Olympics European Youth Games. During the ceremony, the flame will light up the tripod and shall remain lit for the entire duration of the Games. It will be a symbol of hope, pride and great expectations for the Games which will take place in the following days. The Opening Ceremonies will naturally be a lot of fun and full of wonderful surprises. There will also be plenty of special guests! For the time being though we cannot disclose anything., otherwise, what kind of surprise would it be? All you do have to know though is that the event will be a lot of fun for everyone, a special event which you cannot possibly miss!
Further information will be made available as the event draws nearer.
Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for the Special Olympics European Youth Games will take place from September 27-30 and will involve more than 30 law enforcement officers and athletes who will carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope through the Lazio Region and Rome. Earlier, on September 2, a Torch lighting ceremony will be held in Patras, Greece.
Special Olympics GB are delighted that 2 representatives from Great Britain have been selected to run with the Flame on this auspicious occasion. Police Officer, Sgt Robert Chandler, Metropolitan Police and Secretary for the GB Law Enforcement Torch Run programme in Great Britain and Special Olympics Athlete, Jonathan Riggans from Special Olympics St Albans. More information will be posted about their schedule in due course.
Host Town Program Thirty municipalities in the Lazio Region will welcome Special Olympics delegations on September 28-29, giving them a chance to relax and enjoy the hospitality of local communities.
Schools Program Approximately 20,000 schoolchildren will be involved in public awareness and educational efforts aimed at instilling the principles of respect, acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Initiatives Healthy Athletes® Initiatives are designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being. During the Youth Games, Special Olympics athletes will receive a variety of health screenings and services in a series of clinics in the following disciplines: Fit Feet, FUNFitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes® and Special Smiles®. Health care professionals and students will provide the screenings in an effort to educate the professional community about the health needs and abilities of persons with intellectual disabilities.
A European Symposium will be organized on October 1 with the aim of collecting, sharing and discussing current information on the status of young people with intellectual disabilities in Europe, and to identify best practices for improving quality of life and ensuring equality of opportunity.
Family Forum Families will have the opportunity to discuss issues directly related to them on October 3 during a Family Forum.
Youth Forum On October 2 young people will meet in a forum to discuss, demonstrate and display their leadership skills so that other young people, as well as policy makers, government leaders, Special Olympics board members and program leaders will be inspired by their work and replicate this upon returning home.
Volunteer Program Special Olympics wouldn't exist without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of more than 500.000 volunteers worldwide. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, Special Olympics is able to guarantee qualitative training and competition experience to athletes. During the Youth Games, 2,000 volunteers will be involved and will work toward a common goal of providing athletes with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to experience the sense of achievement and joy that comes from participating in sports. If you are interested in volunteering at the Youth Games, contact our Youth Games volunteer coordinator at volontari@specialolympics.it
Family Program Families are the most powerful and valuable natural resource available to Special Olympics. Families serve Special Olympics by reaching out to new athletes, coaching, transporting, raising funds, officiating, chaperoning and training other volunteers. Family members also make energetic and enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors because they know first-hand the benefits and joys of being part of Special Olympics. Special Olympics can provide those family members with a sense of pride in their athlete, a sense of accomplishment through sports, and the hope of an exciting and bright future for the individual as an athlete and citizen in any community. Additionally, Special Olympics can provide support and opportunities for sharing of challenges and accomplishments among family members. During the Youth Games, family members will be welcomed and will be provided with information and assistance so they can enjoy all of the events that will be organized. They also will have an opportunity to share their experiences with others during the Family Forum which is dedicated to issues directly related to them.
For more information about the Youth Games Family Program, family members are requested to work with their program's family coordinators. Program coordinators should then contact Patrizia Polsinelli, Youth Games Family Program coordinator at family@specialolympics.it
Hotel Accommodation
Media Media covering the Youth Games can select from several hotels listed. Once you have made your selection, please complete the Reservation Form and press Send. We will confirm your booking within 24 hours. If you do not hear from us by then, please contact us by telephone: +39 0775 5016150 or email: info@roma2006.com Media are strongly urged to book their accommodation as soon as possible because September is high season in Rome and room availability is limited. If you are interested in accommodation other than what is listed here, please send your request to: Sonja@rsitravel.com or Fax : +39 0775 547458
Hotel Accommodation
Guests Guests who will be attending the Youth Games can select from several hotels listed. Once you have made your selection, please complete the Reservation Form and press Send. We will confirm your booking within 24 hours. If you do not hear from us by then, please contact us by telephone: +39 0775 5016150 or e-mail: info@roma2006.com Guests are strongly urged to book their accommodation as soon as possible because September is high season in Rome and room availability is limited. If you are interested in accommodation other than what is listed here, please send your request to: Sonja@rsitravel.com or Fax: +39 0775 547458