Special Olympics Australia’s 2010 National Games has been lauded as South Australia’s best Festival or Event at the State’s annual Tourism Awards.
The announcement was made Wednesday night at a glittering gala dinner attended by over 600 people at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The Games, which Adelaide hosted for the first time from 19 – 24 April 2010, saw over 800 athletes with an intellectual disability converge on the city to compete in twelve Olympic style sporting events. The athletes were accompanied by over 3,000 visiting families, friends and supporters.
“This award is a very exciting first for the Special Olympics program, said Catriona Barry, CEO, Special Olympics Australia. We are thrilled that the Games have been recognised for their excellence as a national sporting event and also for its ability to significantly impact tourism within the host state.”
The event provided over $3 million in economic impact to the state and also generated $3.9 million in media coverage and an estimated $2.7 in future tourism.
In collecting the award, 2010 Games Director, Ms Jenny Daly, said that a key component of the event’s success was the incredible contribution made by the more than 700 volunteers who worked on Games, and in particular the volunteer Games Organising Committee and Board.
“Running and event of this size and calibre is challenging at the best of times, but to do it so successfully with only 1.5 paid staff and in the midst of the worst economic climate in 70 years is a fantastic testament to the commitment and dedication of everybody involved.”
The key achievements of the Special Olympics Australia 2010 National Games included;
– Securing of over 700 volunteers to run the event
– Record attendance of athletes
– Record attendance of families and supporters via the introduction of a formal Family & Supporters Program.
– The introduction of a ‘Games Village’ hosting all team member and officials
– The introduction of the Sailing and Equestrian competitions
– Record participation in the Healthy Athletes program
– A 100% increase in ongoing sporting programs available to South Australian athletes with an intellectual disability.
As a State award winner the Special Olympics 2010 National Games submission will now go forward as a finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards to be announced in Perth in March 2001.
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