Waterford Special Olympics club has been awarded €500 from Gala Retail as part of the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative.
Gala Retail, a platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, set up the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative in recognition of the work and effort from athletes, coaches and volunteers in Special Olympics Clubs across the country and aims to highlight the good work they do.
The past year has been a challenge for all, but particularly for the Special Olympics Clubs and athletes who were no longer able to come together and train during lockdown restrictions. The Gala Gifts for Clubs cash prize is awarded to Clubs which have been actively creating virtual activities to engage athletes and volunteers during lockdown and this is something Waterford Special Olympics Club has excelled at.
Speaking about the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative, Tony Cluskey, Marketing & Ambient Trading Manager at Gala Retail, said:
“Through Gala’s ongoing partnership with Special Olympics, we have constantly been impressed with the level of commitment and effort from the athletes, volunteers and coaches from each Special Olympics Club across the country and the work that Clubs are doing to maintain engagement and morale with athletes and volunteers during the pandemic and subsequent restrictions is incredibly important.”
“Gala ‘Gifts for Clubs’ aims to recognise the work that Clubs are doing to connect with and supports its athletes and volunteers, keeping morale high during a difficult time and reminding Club members that while they may be apart, they are still a team. Waterford Special Olympics Club has done great work in ensuring it’s athletes and volunteers have stayed connected and Gala is thrilled to be able to award them one of the Gala Gifts for Clubs as a token of our admiration for the work they are doing.”
Waterford Special Olympics Club has prided itself on providing continuous engagement with its members throughout the pandemic. Following the announcement of lockdown restrictions last March, the Club has worked tirelessly to support its members with online daily activities including aerobics, basketball, soccer and games. They’ve even had an Academy Awards night which was huge fun and jam-packed with entertainment!
The activities have been incredibly well received by athletes and their families, with athletes fully engaging in these remote activities, staying connected with their fellow athletes and volunteers and developing new skills along the way.
Gala Retail has been a platinum partner of Special Olympics Ireland since 2015 and has teamed up with the organisation to award cash prizes to Clubs across Ireland in the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiatives which seeks to shine a spotlight on the amazing work and dedication of Special Olympics Ireland clubs across the country.
