This has been a great summer of sport and Prime Minister, David Cameron has made quite a habit of hosting athletes in Downing Street.
The rose garden at 10 Downing Street was the venue for his latest reception, this time with 35 Special Olympics athletes and their coaches as the honoured guests. It was a chance to meet the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg as well to talk about what they’re most looking forward to about competing in Belgium when the Games begin in Antwerp on 13 September.
For some of the athletes it was another boost to the confidence gained through sporting competition. Indeed, such is the power of the Special Olympics experience that for some athletes it’ll mark their first independent trip away from home, an achievement marked in a short speech by Nick Clegg.
The atmosphere was one of controlled excitement as the athletes mingled with other dignitaries as well as Minister for Culture Media and Sport, Sajid Javid, Minister for Sport, Helen Grant and Minister for Disabled People, Mark Harper.
Of course, the talk was all about the sport and the athletes’ final preparations as well as what it’s going to be like to represent Great Britain in a major Games. The athletes will board a Eurostar train for Brussels before travelling on to Antwerp.
