Families
August 2006
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Hello! My name is Judy Burdass and I would like to introduce myself as the Families Co-ordinator for the SOGB World Summer Games Team going to Shanghai in October, 2007. I have been very actively involved with Special Olympics for 15 years - I was Regional Secretary for 7 years and I am still our local Group Secretary. More importantly, our son Duncan competed in the World Summer Games in North Carolina in 1999, so I think I know what help, support and advice I need to make available to you all, as you prepare to support our athletes going to the World Games.
First of all, I must congratulate the athletes that have been selected to represent SOGB. This is a great honour for them, and I hope it will be a very exciting year for them and for you. It will involve more training and hard work and I hope, lots of press coverage, but it will give you all the most fantastic experience being at the Games, encouraging and supporting our athletes. Believe me - our family will never forget July, 1999!
I guess I am already assuming that all parents/carers will be able to go to Shanghai. This obviously will not be the case, but I really want to encourage you all to consider this opportunity. My job will be to keep you informed with all the news and details about the Games. I will also do all I can to help you make your travel arrangements, hotel bookings, visa applications, health requirements, etc., etc. At any time you will only need to contact me (or you may get my husband - Robin- he will be up-to-date with all information), and I will do my level best to help. I will NOT be responsible for actually booking your flights or hotels. Once in Shanghai, I will be there to help all I can and head you in the right directions!!!
Keith Wilcox (Head Of Delegation(HOD)) and Jane Moncrieff (Assistant Head of Delegation (AHOD)) and I, are very keen that ALL families/carers, whether going to the Games or not, really become involved with the Team as it prepares for Shanghai. We really want everyone "on-board", getting to know each other and being part of the whole process. The first full team training session will be the last weekend in October in Middlesbrough. It is hoped that as many families/carers as possible will be able to bring their athletes to Middlesbrough. Suitable accommodation will be available for you near to the Team headquarters. You will be warmly invited to join the team on Saturday evening at the athletes disco. A bar facility will be available next to the disco room to meet athletes, team management and coaches. Keith will be happy to come and meet parents on the Saturday during the day (time to be confirmed). While the team is training - I hope you will appreciate the athletes need this very special time - on their own - with their coaches. Confidence and understanding of each other is vital - some athletes will not have been away on their own before - and the coaches need these training sessions to get to know the athletes and vice versa. Once again - believe me - this is so important.
I hope this first introductory letter encourages you to start thinking about going to Shanghai. I appreciate it will be a long journey to the Games, the culture will be very different, and it will cost money BUT, don't be left at home wishing that you had made the effort - it will be a one-off experience of a lifetime. Go for it if you possibly can!! I am here first of all to encourage you to "Come to Shanghai with Special Olympics Team GB." Having made that decision I am here to help you make your plans and once in Shanghai I hope I can make it all happen for you. So that I can do my job, I need to ensure I have an up-to-date contact name, address, phone number and e-mail (if you have one). I can then update our database and keep everyone informed. I would therefore be grateful if you could let me know any changes or amendments as soon as possible.
The most up to date information will be posted onto the Special Olympics Team GB 2007 website as soon as updates are received from the Games Organisers - www.teamgb2007.org.uk - if you do not have access to the internet - PLEASE let me know and I will send you the information by post.
My address is-: Glebe Farm, Octon, Driffield, YORKS. YO25 3EB
Phone No. is-: 01262 470201
E-mail address is:- j.burdass@virgin.net
I am very excited about going with our Team to Shanghai - I hope you will be? Looking forward to hearing from you - ALL!
Yours in anticipation,
Judy Burdass
Special Olympics Team GB 2007 - Families Co-ordinator