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  James Farley

World Games 2003 (Special Olympics)

 Peasmarsh 18 year old resident (well, 19 year old by the time you read this!), James Farley, has successfully returned from Dublin with an Olympic Gold Medal for Great Britain. He, of course, competed in the sport of Judo.

James has been learning Judo for 8 years now, 7 of which have been with Westerleigh Judokwai (and now Hastings and Rother Special Olympics). James was lucky enough to have one of his personal Coaches, and one of the founder members of Westerleigh Judokwai, Paul Everest, accompany him to Ireland, as a selected National Coach.

James and Paul went to Ireland, ahead of  James’s family, for a weeks training in host town of Galway from Sunday, 15^th. June, 2003. The people of Galway received the Team GB (all the British participants for all the Sports events) with a celebrity-style reception. They had many social functions put on for them during the week, including a reception at the British Embassy. James is proud of his personal invite from the British Ambassador.

They moved onto Dublin on Friday, 20^th. June, 2003 when James’s parents – Sandra and Mark – and his little brother’s Thomas (6) and Harry (4) – flew out to join the teams, and support him throughout the World Games. Regrettably, Paul’s pregnant wife, Paula, and son Harley could not join them, but they were kept well-informed throughout the week.

  World Special Olympic Games Dublin 2003 

 

The Games commenced with an Opening Ceremony at the Croke Park Stadium, Dublin, which housed an audience of 75,000. The atmosphere was incredible, as celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mohammed Ali, Jon Bon Jovi, Colin Farrell and Peirce Brosnan came to wish the athletes well. The show was hosted by Patrick Keilty, and performances were from River Dance, The Corrs, Samantha Mumba, Ronan Keating and U2. The ‘Flame of Hope’ – the Olympic flame – was lit, and the Special Olympic flag was raised. The Games were then officially opened by Nelson Mandela.

The training and competitions went on throughout the week. The final day of the Judo Competition was very tense, but also exciting. James was chosen to fight at level 4, as the athletes are assessed for their ability, and he had to endure 4 fights. He did not win the first fight, so it was nail-biting to watch his further 3 fights of the final. In the last fight, James came from behind to throw his opponent cleanly for Ippon and Uchi-mata, or inner thigh throw. After winning these 3 remaining fights he scored high enough to get THE GOLD!!! Everyone cried with joy when James received his Gold Medal, the feeling was indescribable.

The Closing Ceremony, again at the Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, was the most wonderfully atmospheric occasion. Again, celebrities congratulated the athletes, and the musical party included Blue, Triple 8, Busted, Liberty X, and Westlife. The Special Olympic flag was lowered, and the ‘Flame of Hope’ taken by torch to be passed on to the next host of the Special Olympics. We all hope that James is selected for Shang’Hai in 4 years time, and that Paul remains a National Coach!

The Games ended with the Athletes and audience singing the Special Olympic Anthem, with everyone holding and swaying ‘Glow Lights’ in the darkened stadium. This and the whole event was extremely emotional.

James and Paul both appeared on BBC South Today on Wednesday evening (July 2^nd.), but regrettably BBC Grandstand (Saturday, 5^th. July) did not see fit to show James’s interview in Ireland, and sadly the only coverage of the biggest World Sporting Event this year, was a condensed 8 minutes on Saturday’s Grandstand.

Well done to James! Thank you goes to Paul Everest and Head Special Olympic Judo Coach, Steve Hammond. Thanks also go to Paul’s brother, Chris,  and all the other Coaches, Judo Players and Committee of  Hastings & Rother Special Olympics GB, and Westerleigh Judokwai,  in St. Leonards, East Sussex. Without the Club, James would not be where he is today! A final thank you to all those who contributed money for James’s Special Olympic expenses. Peasmarsh and the Club has a lot to be proud of.

Many thanks to Sandra Farley for this report.     E-Mail: Webmaster       Web Information