Raising our game

The road to Special Olympics GB National Summer Games 2009 in Leicester is racing on with all 18 regions competing next July building their preparation and training plans.

This new "Friends of SOL" e:newsletter has been designed to bring you the latest news and information on next summer's GB games. With just 316 days to go... here's the latest news:

SOL takes centre stage at Beijing event

SOL ambassadors including the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Manjula Sood, SOGB Basketball player Lee Penfold and former Leicester City legend Steve Walsh were part of the Beijing Handover Big Screen event, in Humberstone Gate on Bank Holiday Sunday. Solly the Lion was a roaring success with the crowd as he handed out SOL supporter flags and celebrated the handover moment with the huge crowd in front of the big screen.

Local sports stars get vocal for SOL

The players at Leicester City FC, Leicester Tigers and Leicestershire County Cricket Club all recently gave their time for filming to create a new SOL video. The video was played to visitors to the Beijing Handover event held in Leicester on August 24th. Go to www.hollandalexander.com/sol2009 to see the players showing their support for SOL.

Volunteers hit the mark

Over 500 volunteer applications have now been registered with the SOL Games office. Lynn Senior, Volunteering Director for SOL, was really impressed with the quality and number of applications received to date and said: "The response from potential SOL volunteers is fantastic. We’ve received applications from across Leicester, which as the host city you would expect. There have been applications from across the other 18 competing regions coming to Leicester next summer and from far away shores such as Greece!"

She added: "Being a volunteer is a great way to learn new skills and to make a real difference to the thousands of athletes and their families coming to our city next year. Friendships made between volunteers usually last longer than the games themselves."

If you want to find out more information about volunteering at SOL or to join the Volunteering team please register at www.sol2009.com, but act soon!

Top cricket coach supports games

South African cricket coach, Mickey Arthur, has thrown his support behind the 2009 Special Olympics National Summer Games in Leicester. Arthur has just presided over his country's first Test series win over England since 1965. Upon signing the coveted Special Olympics Leicester flag, he gave his best wishes to the athletes and said: "Good luck to the people of Leicester ahead of next year’s National Summer Games!”

Running on SOL power

Following its renaissance in 2007, the Leicester Marathon returns for a second year on October 19th. Local celebrities, SOGB athletes, ambassadors and staff from the city's sports centres will be taking part in SOL relay teams and some in the half marathon, pounding the streets of Leicester to fundraise for the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics Appeal. For further details on how to apply and run with the Lord Mayor's SOL team contact Clive Morrison at Saffron Lane Sports Centre at Clive.Morrison@leicester.gov.uk or tel: 0116 2833275 by September 30th.

SOL goes back to school

On September 17th SOL is hosting an event at Crown Hills Community College, Leicester, to announce a new opportunity for schools to become involved and keep in touch with the preparation, support and hosting of the UK Special Olympics in Leicester during July 2009.

Lion King

Solly the lion has roared his way onto the entry list for the 10th Annual John Smith's Mascot Grand National.

Solly, the official mascot for Special Olympics Leicester National Summer Games, will run in the one furlong race at Huntingdon Racecourse on Sunday 12th October 2008. The race will be featured on Sky Sports News and we hope a certain set of lion feet to be first past the post. Check out see www.sol2009.com for photos and reviews of the race from October 20th.