Meath Olympians (from left) Liam Brady and Stephen Brown from Dunshaughlin, John Blake from Navan and Robert McDonald from Dunshaughlin at Dublin airport yesterday before departing for Athens.

Team Meath departs for Athens

Ann Casey

Published: Wed 22 Jun 2011, 4:55 PM

Six Meath athletes were among the 126-strong Team Ireland, which boarded a flight for Greece on Monday morning ahead of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Games will take place in Athens from this Saturday until 4th July. Team Ireland, which will be the 10th largest delegation at the Games, comprises 126 athletes and 49 coaches. Meath will be represented in athletics by Edward Kenney from Julianstown, in basketball by John Blake from Navan, Liam Brady, Dunshaughlin; Stephen Brown, Navan, and Robert McDonald, Dunshaughlin; and in golf by Laura Kelly from Oldcastle. In addition, Louise Tinne from Kells will provide medical support for the team. Team Ireland will compete in 12 different sports: aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, kayaking and table tennis. The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be one of the biggest sporting events to take place in the world this year. Some 7,500 athletes from 185 nations will compete at the Games, and they will be supported by 25,000 volunteers. Along with the athletes and coaches, over the coming days some 400 family members from Ireland will make the trip to ther Greek capital to support their sporting heroes.