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Contact Details

Central Office - Stephanie Mc Dermott
team2011@specialolympics.ie
Tel: +353 1 869 1623

2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games Volunteers

 

Along with Team Ireland, over 200 volunteers will travel to Athens to volunteer at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The majority of these volunteers will work directly with the Athens Games Organising Committee. (Special Olympics Ireland is the only Special Olympics programme which has been given this privilege)

Each volunteer travelling has to raise €3,250 for the trip. The funds raised by these volunteers  will help offset the costs associated with sending Team Ireland to Greece and cover their own travel costs. Fundraising efforts have been outstanding in all corners of Ireland. Activities have ranged from ‘Coast to Coast’ walks of Ireland & Santa’s Grottos, to Fashion Shows and Golf Tournaments.

Many volunteers have created their own Special Olympics Fundraising Pages - search for "Athens" on this page and see some of the events.

Travel

Volunteer Flight Details:

Dublin - Athens: Thursday 23rd June 2011  (2 flights - both depart in the afternoon. Times TBC)
Athens - Dublin:  Tuesday 5th July 2011   (2 flights)

Accommodation  

All volunteers will be staying at the Hotel Zafolia, Alexandras Street, Athens 

Athens Volunteers Manuals

  Official Volunteers Training Manual provided by the Games Organising Committee
    General Guide for Volunteers travelling to Athens compiled by Special Olympics Ireland and the Athens Welcoming Committee

 

Athens Welcoming Committee

Athens Welcoming Committee - May Update

Wed, 25 May 2011 19:42:00 GMT

Athens May 2011

Hi everybody, greetings again from Athens. We hope you are all keeping well and beginning to get very excited about the World Games in Athens. We certainly are and can’t wait for Team Ireland and company to get here.  It really isn’t long now. The atmosphere is building here, and lately there has been a significant increase in the number of TV ads and pieces in magazines etc.. about the Special Olympics. You are all going to be famous when you are here.

We just wanted to give you a quick update on how things are going here and we also thought at this stage, and just in case you are doing some shopping for summer clothes, it might be useful to give you some pointers about what to pack. 

The biggest thing to remember is that Athens will be much hotter than the best summers day in Ireland. Normally in late June /early July the temperature is in mid to high 30's with sun shine pretty much all day. After dark it is still very warm and you shouldn’t need more than  a T shirt with a very light shawl/ jacket (although it is likely you won’t even need that). You might wear jeans in the evening but you will probably be most comfortable in shorts or light linen/cotton trousers/dresses. Sandels are a good option or a light pair of runners (you will probably spend a lot of the day on your feet). From personal experience we can reliably inform you that Irish skin doesn’t survive particularly well without heavy protection from the Greek sun. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and to put sunscreen on your face ,ears, necks, legs, back of your knees and your feet. You have been warned!

You should also pick up a few adaptors as you will need two prong European plug adaptors for any electrical goods you bring with you.

On a different note, we have finished the guidebook. You will be receiving it soon and we really hope you enjoy it and find some useful suggestions and information in it. It is full of all sorts of info about where to go and what to see, but it also has information about pharmacies, hospitals, the Irish embassy, local police etc... to put your mind at ease.  If you are planning to stay on in Athens after the games or take a holiday elsewhere in Greece, it’s time to get busy with your bookings. Athens and the islands can get very busy in the summer with  most accommodation booked up well in advance. We have included some recommended holiday destinations for you in your guidebook.

Without spoiling any of the surprises (I don’t think we are supposed to be telling you this but..) a very busy schedule of entertainment is being arranged for you, by a number of different hosts, while you are in Athens. You are absolutely certainly going to have great craic and meet lots of fun people by day and by night.

That's all for now. Good luck with you preparations and packing. We are really looking forward to meeting you all.

We'll see you soon
Athens Welcoming committee

Athens Welcoming Committee - April Update

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:33:00 GMT

At the invitation of Special Olympics Ireland,  a few of us local Irish/Greek residents have come together to try and help out in the preparations of the visit of Team Ireland and the great army of volunteers that will be supporting the Athletes. We hope to organise some evening entertainment for you and also be on hand to assist in any way we can during the Games.