Antwerp, September 14, 2014 MEDIA ALERT Torch Run and official opening of the Olympic Town: 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games MAYOR BART DE WEVER CARRIES THE FLAME OF HOPE & OPENS OLYMPIC TOWN Today the Mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever carried the Flame of Hope on the final part of the Special Olympics Torch Run relay journey to the Olympic Town in central Antwerp. Accompanied by Special Olympics athletes and the Chairman of Special Olympics International Tim Shriver, Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever and Catalina Daniëls, CEO 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games, officially opened the Olympic Town in Steenplein after running the cauldron from City Hall to the Olympic Town. Former triathlon wheelchair athlete Marc Herremans also accompanied the Flame. The Flame will stay burning during the Games at the Olympic Town next to the River Scheldt. As well as being an information point for Games the Olympic Town is also home to a special pop-up restaurant where Unified cooking will take place every day. Serving lunch prepared by top chefs and students with an intellectual disability from the Emmäus Institute and the Stedelijk Lyceum in Merksem. The Unified Pop-Up restaurant will be a major attraction as some of Belgium’s top chefs will be cooking alomg side Special Olympics athletes. Unified Cooking can be booked between 12 noon - 14.30 via [email protected] Top Chefs include:- Sept. 14: Dagny Ros Sept.15: Christer Elfving Sept. 16: Wout Bru, Sept.17: Viky Geunes, Sept. 18: Dominique Persoone, Sept.19: Dave De Belder Today September 14: First day of competition and so much more! Today is the first day of competition for the 2000 athletes who have been training solidly for many months. Results can be viewed on www.so2014.com or www.specialolympics.org daily. Athletes will compete in 10 sports: Athletics, Artistic Gymnastics, Badminton, Bocce, Judo, Table tennis, (Unified) Basketball, Soccer, Cycling, and Swimming at 5 different locations in and around Antwerp. During the Games, the athletes will stay in the ‘Olympic Village’ in de Kempense Meren in Mol, where the Flame of Hope will stay burning. We want to draw your attention to the fact that Special Olympics serves people with intellectual disabilities. Please do not confuse with Paralympics which serves people with a physical disability. About the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games In 1968, Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to President John F Kennedy. Today this Movement serves 4.3 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in 170 countries and holds more than 70.000 competitions offering 33 Olympic type sports annually. This year, the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games take place in Antwerp from September 9 until September 20. During this period Belgium will welcome 2000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 58 countries in the Europe Eurasia region including 1,000 coaches and more than 6,000 volunteers. During six days of competition, athletes will compete in 10 sports at five locations across Antwerp. Special Olympics Belgium has been active in Belgium since 1979 and organizes National Games annually. The Games of the Heart aims to create a legacy in Belgium of inclusion and acceptance of people with an intellectual disability. Download all videos and rushes of the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games via the Rambla- server: http://specialolympics.rcms.rambla.be/ Login: media Password: SO2014 Download all images, logos, press releases and media alerts (in Dutch, French and English) related to the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games via: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bx8n0_uKzuNkTGtDMmZtTDJxSFU&usp=sharing Follow on: www.so2014.com www.specialolympics.org twitter.com/SOBelgium @SpecOlympicsEU www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympics.be www.facebook.com/soeuropeeurasia For all request with regard to images, interviews or accreditations, please contact: (do not publish) Wavemakers PR & Communications Amélie Putmans [email protected] +32 (0)477 20 09 70 Elke De Mayer [email protected] +32 (0)485 75 28 66 .