Johannesburg, June 13: Former South African president Nelson Mandela gave his country's Special Olympics squad a cheerful farewell before they set off for the games in Ireland next week. And, thousands of kilometres away, the German Special Olympics soccer team warmed up for the tournament. The squad met Mandela at his foundation in Johannesburg on Thursday (June 12). Dressed in one of his famous colourful shirts, Mandela joked with the team. "I am certain you will do us proud and bring back all the gold." "Mandela shook hands with each of the athletes," he laughed before shaking hands with the entire squad. The team, who leave for Ireland on Sunday (June 15), will compete in five and 11-a-side soccer, a marathon, a half marathon, short and middle distance athletics, aquatics and golf. The Olympics are being held in Dublin from June 21 to 29. Since 1968, the Special Olympics -- which attracts entries from 160 countries -- has organised programmes to give the mentally disabled opportunities to develop fitness and demonstrate courage. Some 170 million people are believed to suffer from mental disability, the single largest disability group in the world.


Teams across the world are gearing up to the start of the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003. About 7,000 athletes and coaches from 160 countries will be taking part in the games, which start on June 21 at Croke Park in Ireland.


Altogether, Germany has 167 athletes taking part in the 16 sporting events in the Games, including the soccer competition and the players were put through a gentle practice session in Mannheim on Thursday (June 12).


Bureau Report