Green Events

Special Olympics Limerick 2014 Goes Green

The 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games will take place in Limerick from Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th June 2014.

1,500 Special Olympics athletes from the 4 corners of Ireland will participate in the 3-day residential Games, in 13 sports competitions and a Motor Activities Training Programme. In addition to the 1,500 athletes we will also have 500 Coaches and Official Delegates, 3,000 Family Members and 3,000 Volunteers!

Plans are now forming to make the return of the games to Limerick as Green as possible. There will be energy, water, waste & transport initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of the games. We are off to a flying start with an offer of sponsorship from Down2Earth Packaging to sponsor 30,000 compostable hot cups for the Guest Services and family centres.

Check out the fully compostable, custom printed ‘Special Olympics’ cups sponsored and provided by down2earch materials by clicking here.

Games organisers are working with the Southern Region Waste Management Office and Local Contractor Mr. Binman to ensure all waste from the games is segregated and where possible waste is prevented as well. Its anticipated thatt most of the waste will comprise either compostable waste such as left-over food after meals or recyclable waste such as water bottles & juice cartons. There will be very little waste that will require landfilling. All Athletes will stay in accommodation in UL and the majority of the games will take place there as well but other venues such as Ballykisteen Golf Club, Clonshire Equestrian Centre and Mary Immaculate college have all come on board to ensure waste is prevented, recycled or composted.

Athletes & supporters will travel by coach to outlying venues to reduce congestion as well as contributing to Limerick’s Smarter Travel policy. Other greening measures include the use of compostable coffee cups at the Family & Guest Centre, Park & Ride for volunteers and Spectators and the use of social media rather than printed pamphlets & flyers. Best of luck to all the Athletes on June 12th!

For more information on greening this event contact:

Pauline McDonogh

Regional Waste Prevention Co-ordinator Southern Region Waste Management Office

Email: pauline.mcdonogh@srwmo.ie

Tel: 061 496844/0872755538

Web: www.managewaste.ie

Twitter: @preventwaste