Davis wins Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award

MAYO native Mary Davis, the CEO of Special Olympics International and long-term campaigner for the rights and inclusion of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, has been presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Sport 2017 Award at the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Awards.

Davis was CEO of the Special Olympics World Summer Games when they were staged in Ireland in 2003. It was the first time the event was staged outside of North America since the movement was founded in 1968.

The award for Mary Davis - the latest in a long line of awards – is in recognition of her achievements and years of service with the Special Olympics movement both in Ireland and internationally.

Davis, who hails from Swinford, won the Person of the Year and Woman of the Year awards in 2003 following the staging of the Special Olympics in Ireland. Athletes and coaches from 165 countries participated in the hugely successful event supported by over 30,000 volunteers.

After serving as Managing Director and Regional President of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia with the responsibility of overseeing the growth of Special Olympics across 58 countries, she was appointed Chief Executive of Special Olympics International in 2015.