Sydney, Australia, March 5 - Special Olympics Australia held its first-ever Melbourne-based SPLASH corporate swim challenge last Friday (1 March). Several Olympic icons including 2016 Rio Olympic athlete Deborah Tsai, Sydney Olympic Games bronze medallist Dean Puller and para-triathlete Liam Twoomey competed in the event alongside eight Special Olympics Australia athletes and eight corporate teams.
Leading Australian businesses participated in the challenge to help raise funds, including international engineering, design and advisory group, Aurecon, leading national law firm, Mills Oakley and specialist Advisory and Restructuring firm, McGrathNicol who took home the SPLASH trophy, just like their Sydney counterparts who were crowned the first SPLASH champions in Sydney in 2014.
The event, which took place at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, was kicked off by a Torch Run with members of Law Enforcement Torch Run Victoria who were also the highest fundraisers on the night with a contribution of $15k.
Pierre Comis, Chief Executive Officer at Special Olympics Australia said "We're so excited to bring SPLASH to Australia's sporting capital here in Melbourne. Each of the corporate teams did an amazing job raising money and swimming alongside Special Olympics athletes in a truly inclusive display. We're so thankful to the Olympians and other sporting champions that came along to lend their support and we are so excited by everyone's desire to make SPLASH an even bigger fundraiser next year!"
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About Special Olympics
Special Olympics Australia is part of a global community that brings joy and inclusion to people with intellectual disability and autism through sport. Through our network of dedicated volunteers and quality coaches, we provide safe and supportive playing environments where people with disability can aspire to anything, feel the thrill of accomplishment, and achieve beyond expectation.
