Member Article

SIV Events brings £1.5 million Special Olympics to Sheffield

Sheffield is set to play host to Special Olympics GB’s 2017 National Summer Games after SIV Events was successful a joint bid to bring the event to the city.

The organisation will be delivering the Games – the 10th in history of the organisation - in partnership with Sheffield City Council, Marketing Sheffield, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire Sport and Activity Sheffield.

Taking place from 7 to 11 August 2017, it will be the second time the multi-sports event, expected to attract 2,000 athletes, 500 voluntary coaches, 500 volunteers and an estimated 5,000 family members has been held in Sheffield. The last time was 1993.

Venues for the Games will include SIV’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Concord Sports Centre, Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre and the English Institute of Sport Sheffield.

Dom Stokes, general manager of SIV Events, said: “We are incredibly proud to be bringing this inspirational event to our world-class venues in Sheffield. Our facilities and track record in delivering major, international conferences and sporting events was key to securing the National Summer Games

“With thousands of athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators expected in the city for the six-day event, we estimate the economic benefit of hosting the games in Sheffield will be around £1.5 million.”

Special Olympics GB is the largest registered charity providing year-round sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. The National Summer Games is the showpiece event held every four years for the organisation and its athletes.

In this country, Special Olympics Great Britain serves more than 8,000 registered athletes annually through almost 150 volunteer-led local clubs and 19 regions.

Karen Wallin, Special Olympics GB’s CEO, said: “We are thrilled to be heading back to Sheffield. We expect in the region of 2,000 athletes and 500 voluntary coaches - supported by a further 500 volunteers and estimated 5,000 family members – to visit Sheffield in the summer of 2017 for our biggest national event which takes place every four years.

“We are looking forward to the support of the local people and businesses of Sheffield as this very significant sporting event will require a large amount of assistance and energy.

“We are sure that the great City of Sheffield will provide a very successful and hugely memorable event for our athletes, their families, coaches and volunteers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .