TAYSIDE SPECIAL Olympics has started out on the route which will take the area’s athletes to the Leicester summer games of 2009.

At an event in Forfar yesterday officials and team members of the body which was recently honoured with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service gathered to start the fund-raising process to send the team of 124 athletes and 42 coaches and management staff south of the border.

Tayside Special Olympics is a registered charity dedicated to helping people with a learning disability in the Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross areas to achieve their sporting potential through ongoing training and participation in local, regional, national, European and world games.

Months of hard training and competition lie ahead for the athletes and coaches.

“The 2009 games is sure to be an experience of a lifetime with the opening and closing ceremonies taking place at Walkers Stadium and a host of top-class sporting venues available,” said team manager Laura Smith.

“We need to raise £700 for each competitor and volunteer coach—£116,200 in total—to pay for travel, food, accommodation, kit and all of the other costs associated with competing in this major sporting event.

“Special Olympics receive no money from the government, sportscotland or the Big Lottery Fund so we have to rely on the support of family, friends and local people.

“Your organisation could ‘adopt an athlete’, organise a fund-raising event or have a collection in the pub or in the office. The opportunities are endless,” added Laura, who can be contacted on 01307 475367.