[bc]ESSILOR ON-SITE AND SUPPLYING LENSES AT
THE 2003 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD SUMMER GAMES[/bc]
From June 21- 26, 7000 Special Olympics athletes from 160 countries worldwide gathered in Dublin, Ireland for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. At a packed Croke Park for the opening ceremony, the 70,000 people in attendance, including 33,000 Irish volunteers, enjoyed the company of a diverse band of celebrities and world dignitaries including Nelson Mandela, Muhammed Ali, Bon Jovi, U2, Arnold Schwarzenegger posing as The Terminator, Carolyn Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics founder. This was the first time the world games were held outside the US and Ireland president Mary McAleese gave a warm welcome to all who attended.

The Special Olympics-Lion’s Club International Opening Eyes Program (SOOE) was on hand to screen 2500 athletes for vision needs. For those needing eyeglasses, Essilor provided the lenses as the official worldwide supplier of ophthalmic lenses to the program.

Audrey Reed, senior director of purchasing, Essilor of America, was present for the games to help cheer the athletes on, award medals and support the SOOE.