Sixty-two athletes from Waterford are heading to the Special Olympics Ireland Games in Dublin, with organisers saying it is the largest county contingent taking part this year.

The team leaves this morning from SETU ahead of the four-day event at Tallaght Stadium and venues across Dublin. The Waterford squad is competing across 11 sports, supported by 28 volunteer coaches.

Volunteer Susan McGill says preparations have been ongoing for years. She says many of the athletes have been training since last September after progressing through local and regional competitions.

She says the excitement across the group is huge. “There isn’t a sport that we’re not involved in and there’s great excitement all around,” she says. McGill adds, “We have the largest group from Waterford ever representing, taking part in a wide range of sports.”

She also highlights the early morning departure and the atmosphere around the send off. “The spirits are still high,” she says. “Anyone around to wave us off in the rain would be great.”

The Special Olympics Ireland Games run from today until June 21st, bringing together more than 1,200 athletes across 12 sports. The opening ceremony takes place in Tallaght Stadium, featuring the Law Enforcement Torch Run’s Torch of Hope, before competition gets underway across multiple venues.