The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) today announced that the Republic of Ireland will be the first national team to become Global Team Ambassadors for the Special Olympics Global Football Initiative.

Within this role the Republic of Ireland Senior International team will use the power of football to promote respect, acceptance and inclusion of young people and adults with intellectual disabilities as part of the Special Olympics Global Football initiative.

The Republic of Ireland Senior International team will take on the global ambassador role for the Special Olympics movement alongside Serie A Champions Inter Milan, UK Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and Corinthians FC of Brazil.

This partnership is a natural progression for the FAI. The Association's Football for All programme has as its central aim the delivery of football opportunities to people who may not ordinarily get a chance to play the ‘beautiful game'. The Football Association was the first Sports Governing Body in Ireland to appoint a National Coordinator with this remit and the programme, which includes Special Olympics football, has been a huge success.

The FAI now has two full-time Development officers with responsibility for facilitating a clear pathway to cater for players with various disabilities and at the moment has 3,500 players participating in these programmes.

John Delaney, FAI Chief Executive said: "We are delighted to take our long-time relationship with Special Olympics one step further by taking on a global ambassador role. We are committed to using our fan base across the world to promote inclusion in sport for people with intellectual disabilities and raise the profile of Special Olympics."
Within the Global Team Ambassador role, the FAI will seek to involve supporters, coaches and partners as part of the promotion of inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities in sport.

"It is estimated that only 1 in 500 children with intellectual disability will be given the chance to play football due to being seen by their peers as being ‘different' or ‘without ability,'" shared Mary Davis (pictured above), Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia who also oversees the Global Football initiative. "The partnership will help create opportunities for Special Olympics athletes here in Ireland and around the world, transforming the way communities and groups think and act in regard to disability."

There are 300,000 registered Special Olympics football players worldwide and the aim is to bring that number closer to 500,000 by involving Global Football Ambassadors such as the FAI.

Special Olympics Global Football is supported by football greats such as Kaka, Osvaldo (Ossie) Ardiles, Gerard Houllier, Teofilo Cubillas, David James, Doris Fitschen and Christine Lilly. Special Olympics is partnered by FIFA and the Football Confederations.

About Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia

Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) works with half a million athletes in 58 countries across Europe and Eurasia (Easter Europe and Central Asia), providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Special Olympics provides sports opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities of all ability levels. Paralympics provides opportunities for elite-level athletes with disabilities.

Visit www.specialolympics-eu.org for more information on Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.