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Prime Minister sends good luck message to Special Olympics GB athletes

Special Olympics GB’s athletes, coaches and team members - in Belgium ahead of today's European Games Opening Ceremony - have received the following message from The Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Mr Cameron has said:

"You’re about to take part in an extraordinary competition, the Special Olympics European Games. I’m sure there are going to be some great performances. You’re going to inspire a whole country; you're going to change people’s attitudes towards disability, particularly towards intellectual disability, and you’re going to make us all extremely proud."

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has added:

“Special Olympics GB is an incredible organisation that gives thousands of people the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, keep fit and compete for their country. The London 2012 Paralympics was a triumph for athletes with physical disabilities and I’m proud that Special Olympics GB is now doing the same for people with intellectual disabilities. I wish all the athletes the best of luck for Antwerp and look forward to welcoming many of them to Sheffield where we will be proud hosts of the National Summer Games in 2017. You’re not only competing for yourselves, you’re not only competing to make the nation proud, you’re also competing in a way which inspires other people with intellectual disabilities to follow in your footsteps."

Announcing the host city for the next Special Olympics National Games, the Deputy Prime Minister also added:

"I am absolutely delighted that many of you will be competing in 2017 in Sheffield. As you will have seen from the crowds as everybody welcomed the Tour de France, as it sped through Sheffield just a few weeks ago, people in South Yorkshire are absolutely sports mad. We’ve got a fantastic set of sporting facilities. I look forward even more to welcoming you and joining in that very special Sheffield and South Yorkshire welcome in 2017.”

The 2014 European Summer Games run from 9- 21 September 2014 in Antwerp, Belgium. More than 2,000 athletes from 58 countries are expected to compete at the Games and enjoy 13 days full of joy and friendship. The athletes will compete in 11 sports and be invited to join 5 supporting programs. There will be an expected 40,000 spectators and around 4,000 volunteers at the event.

Special Olympics in Europe and Eurasia encompasses a diverse range of cultures, languages and customs. The region spans Iceland to Israel, Portugal to Siberia, Russia but we all have one thing in common – a passionate commitment to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.

The GB Team is made of 49 Athletes, 7 Head coaches, 9 Coaches accompanied by the team's head of delegation, assistant head of delegation, family coordinator, physio and PR coordinator.

Please click here to find out who has been selected to be part of the 2014 GB team.

Opening Ceremony Live Stream

The Opening Ceremony will be live-streamed on www.so2014.com  at 14:00 GMT on Saturday 13 September.  Make sure you don’t miss it!

Competition Results

From Sunday 14 September there will be twice-daily updates of all competition results.

Click here to visit the website.