Special Olympics IoM heading to landmark games in Sweden

It'll be largest event of its type ever hosted in the country

Special Olympics Isle of Man is beginning its journey to take part in a landmark event in Europe later this week.

For the first time, the Manx squad has been invited to participate in the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games being held in Malmo from Friday to Sunday this week (4-6 September).

Expected to feature around 2,000 athletes from 26 nations competing across eleven different sports, it's understood to be the biggest sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities the country has ever hosted.

Special Olympics Isle of Man's Sport Director, Pete Corkill, says occasions like these are a great experience for local athletes and everyone else connected to the charity:

The Isle of Man will take part in four of the sports at the games - football, ten-pin bowling, athletics and swimming.

Outside of those, the other disciplines to be part of the games will be Table Tennis, Tennis, Golf, Floorball, Handball, Powerlifting and Judo.

The games will begin with the opening ceremony in the city at Folkets Park on Friday, 4 September before sporting activity takes place on Saturday and Sunday (5-6 September).