Tipperary Special Olympics Sport Club has expressed delight that one of its athletes, Frank O’Dwyer of Ballylanders has been chosen to represent Team Ireland in Floorball at next year’s Special Olympic Games. A son of Mike and Madge O’Dwyer, Frank has been selected for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy which will run from March 8th to 16th bringing together over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries. Frank’s journey began back in 2022 training weekly with Tipperary Special Olympics in the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre in Tipperary Town. Tipperary Special Olympics Club has been in existence for over 32 years with over 25 non paid committed volunteers who gave weekly of time to train athletes in nine different sports and three different clubs. The Ballylanders athlete has enjoyed superb weekly training sessions under the baton of volunteers Mike Ryan, Eddie Kennedy and Lily Carter. Frank himself has shown outstanding commitment, supported by his family, especially, over the winter months. Two teams took part in Special Olympics Regional Games in Waterford SETU Arena two years ago with Frank O’Dwyer selected as an athlete on the team that brought a gold medal home. This team was then selected for Special Olympics Ireland Games hosted at Armagh in March and, following this success, made the grade as part of Floorball Team Ireland to travel to Italy next year. All costs for Frank travelling to world games are covered by Special Olympics Ireland.