Special Games in funding review

The British Special Olympics team could be set for a review of funding to bring it in line with the Paralympics.

Speaking at the Special Olympics in China, the minister for disabled people, Anne McGuire said discussions with the IPC have already taken place.

"There are funding issues, and we've had discussions with Lawrie McMenemy who heads up Team GB," said McGuire. It's a UK Sport matter, but there is options through the Lottery, which we would want to see them explore."

The International Olympic Committee recognises three movements under the Olympic umbrella; the World Summer and Winter Games, the Paralympics - and the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which is drawing to a close in Shanghai. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) currently receives government funding from UK Sport, but the British Special Olympics movement does not, relying instead on volunteers or charitable fund-raising.

Anne McGuire MP says that there are funding routes for special athletes through the lottery The deputy head of the British delegation in Shanghai, Jane Moncrieff said it was more important for the government to invest in the development of the British Special Olympics team, rather than trying to focus on elite sport development for special athletes.

"There's no doubt we could do with additional funding to develop sports for people with a learning disability", said Moncrieff. "But to expect to get Lottery funding for the World Games is probably not realistic, given that none of our athletes are considered to be elite, and therefore couldn't get funded at that level. Crucially, what we would be looking for is funding to develop more grassroots community-based participation. To develop Special Olympics around the country, what we need is a network of paid development officers, and that would help more people with learning disabilities become involved in sport.

The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai has attracted over 7,000 athletes from 160 nations around the world, aided by over 40,000 Chinese volunteers.

There are currently 1.5million people with learning disabilities in the UK, and a further 200 children are born each week with learning disabilities. Over 130million people worldwide have a learning disability, with China accounting for over 13million.

159 special athletes have made the trip to Shanghai to compete in the quadrennial event for Team GB, winning over 40 medals so far in sports ranging from swimming to football. The British team consists of athletes from Special Olympics sports programmes across the Scotland, England and Wales, with over half of the Shanghai delegation consisting of Scottish participants.