Special Olympics: Mick Hilliam and team work so hard to create wonderful experience

Not everyone was over the moon when Leicester was chosen to host the 2009 Special Olympic Games.

East Midlands team manager Mick Hilliam fondly remembers the last games in Glasgow, four years ago.

"All I had to do then was make sure everyone from our team got up there safely," he said. "It has turned out a bit different this time."

As head of the area's delegation, Mick has been a busy man, not only throughout the games but in the lengthy build-up.

While everyone has been applauding the fact that the Games are on the Leicestershire athletes and public's doorstep, the decision to bring them back to the city for the first time in 20 years has led to a lot more work for those charged with hosting them.

"Having it in Leicester has actually made things a lot harder because there have been a lot more demands put on us," said Mick.

"There has been lots of PR to organise and interviews to sort out from journalists who want to go there and speak to so-and-so.

"We are not knocking it because we want the publicity. When the games are somewhere else, you just don't get that.

"It has meant a lot of work and it can be frustrating at times but there are a lot of good people out there who work with you.

"There's a lot of emails to deal with and a lot of things to sort out. I have to be a spokesperson for the East Midlands team as well. But the people who work with me are brilliant and, without them, it would never happen."

Mick is no stranger to working with people with learning difficulties and sees his involvement in the games as a natural progression.

"I have been involved in this for a long while and have always been sporty and worked with people with learning disabilities," he said.

"My job involves working with people like that and doing sports with them.

"I got involved as an athletics coach and it went from there really.

"Every organisation has to have someone doing the administration and I have been that person to manage the East Midlands team. I suppose I pull it all together, co-ordinate it and pick the team.

"It is a big job because they are big areas. The East Midlands team, for example, takes up Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire.

"Then there are four teams from Scotland and one from Wales, the north west, north east, west Midlands, south east and the east.

"I have been all over the place this week trying to see as many of our athletes in action as possible and it has been an absolutely wonderful experience.

"As a team, the East Midlands have been in with a shout of plenty of medals and the whole thing has been received well and there has been a great atmosphere everywhere I have been.

"The only downside has been the weather. I was at Rutland Water on Wednesday for the kayaking and got absolutely soaked.

"There has been a lot of work getting everything in place for everyone involved but, when you get to the events and you see people's faces, smiles and medals, it makes you feel great.

"The team spirit is really good and there is good camaraderie.

"For those people who have taken part and watched it, I think lots of them will have been amazed and taken away with them an experience they will never forget."