A total of 91 Irish athletes have left Dublin Airport for this year's Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi earlier this evening.
Team Ireland will partake in sports such as athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, kayaking, swimming and table tennis.
Competitors from across the globe are en route to Abu Dhabi this week ahead of the Games which kick off on Thursday March 14th.
Great excitement in Terminal 1 as 91 #TeamIreland athletes depart for Abu Dhabi to compete in the @WorldGamesAD on St. Patrick’s Day. Best of luck team, we’re all behind you 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/cL3tW3qGI2
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 7, 2019
Supported by a volunteer management team of 39, Team Ireland will join 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 countries at the Games.
As well as the management team, 76 volunteers from Ireland have also backed their bags to assist the games organising committee in the UAE.
Irish Rugby Head-Coach Joe Schmidt sent the team his best wishes:
Today is the day #TeamIreland depart for @WorldGamesAD and they have the support of everyone, including @IrishRugby Manager Joe Schmidt
Thanks Joe, maybe the teams can meet up in a few weeks to compare International stories?
@IrishRugby @RoryBest2@SportNINet @sportireland pic.twitter.com/FeqjTl9eXV— Special Olympics Irl (@SOIreland) March 7, 2019
