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Lee Penfold was part of Team Great Britain for the Special Olympics in Shanghai in 2007.

He played for the basketball team and brought back a silver medal for his country.

Now Lee has been chosen to be an Ambassador for the Special Olympics 2009, which are being held in Leicester.

He's be writing a diary for 成人论坛 Leicester over the last few months, and you can catch up with all his past diary entries below...

May 2009

I听 was invited to join other SOL ambassadors including our Cultural Patron听 Engelbert Humperdinck听 at听 Hope Hamilton CE Primary听 School in Hamilton , Leicester, and St Cuthbert鈥檚 CE Primary School in Great Glen to听 encourage young people to get involved with the games and learn more about the Special Olympics.

The reception from everyone was amazing. It was then on to open a mural dedicated to celebrating sport and unity in the city, which is on public display in Charles Street, Leicester.

This was followed by joining a number of invited guests who attended a dinner in aid of the Special Olympics at听 the Quarter Restaurant in the city centre.

The Lord Mayor Cllr听 Manjula Sood and Special Olympics, Leicester Ted Cassidy were both present听 as was听 former Eastenders and Bollywood Actor Dalip Tahill who used to Play Ronnie Ferria in the popular soap series.

I also attended the Games Conference held over two days at Leicester University.听 I was part of the SOL Games Organising Committee who shared their vision and plans in progress with the visiting 190 x UK regional SOGB representatives who visited the city.

I also met ITV鈥檚 - Tyne Tees -presenter Ian Payne who gave a presentation on the type of national coverage the games are likely to receive during the build up to the games starting in June/ July.

I have also recently started to step up my media work with some filming on my journey to SOL with 成人论坛鈥檚 East Midlands Today presenter Ross Fletcher and was so proud to have heard the first of my audio diaries played on 成人论坛 Radio 4鈥檚 You and Yours -92-95 FM.

So it back to more training for the games and more SOL road-shows to attend as we edge closer to the Games in July with two and a half months to go and more and more people to needed to support us starting with a magical opening ceremony to lift off the games on July 25.

Flying the flag

April 2009

What a great month for the Special Olympics.

My feet haven't touched the ground as I've moved from event to event to promote SOL and meeting people who are so interested in the games. The good news is that the all other media partners can also promote the event as well to raise the profile of people with learning disabilities.

It was a real privilege to be invited to open the Love Sport exhibition at New Walk Centre as part of the SOL Let's Celebrate programme to showcase the talents of听 people with learning disabilities through the arts, music, drama and literacy during the next three months.

Another key highlight of the month was the official announcement of the opening ceremony tickets which are now on sale at a very attractive price to enable all people to experience an Olympics Opening Ceremony for very first time.

It will be a fantastic launch to the games week and will host a range of amazing performances commissioned especially for this one off event.

It's important to the athletes and gives us all a major boost and lift off to the week of sport ahead.

It helps when the local communities turn out in force to give us all a cheer and a wave. In听 Glasgow 2005, 22,000 people, a record attendance, turned out in force and I'm hoping Leicestershire folk turn out on mass听 to welcome the games home for the second time in the city's history.

Our first national event in 20 years will hopefully inspire people to set a new games record and fill the Walkers Stadium, which would be a dream come true for all of us.听 Here's an opportunity for everyone to play their part - come on Leicester- contact the Walkers to book your tickets and support SOL 2009. Its an occasion not to be missed!!! Help us spread the news and bring a friend along.

February 2009

Six months to go and what a听 snowy start to February! Well it is the
middle of winter I suppose!

I was joined by my good friend SOL games director Steve Humphries who, one Sunday, managed to find his way through some pretty hazardous driving conditions from Leicester to Hinckley to congratulate members of the Hinckley Swimming Club.

Their collective fundraising efforts helped raise 拢800+ to assist two swimmers, Christina Lewis and Philip Haines, with their costs for the Special Olympics this
year.

To cap a wonderful evening of entertainment, 拢1325.13 was raised and put听 towards听 new sports equipment for the Ellesmere College Special School PE Department - terrific!

I met a galaxy of Leicestershire sports stars and media folk including 成人论坛 East Midlands Today sports news presenter Mark Shardlow and ITV's Chris Hesketh and Gary Newby.听

It was also the moment for everyone to look forward to the summer of 2009 when the Special Olympics come back to the city for the second time. I can't wait and I'm so excited.听

I was invited to give a speech to 500 people alongside of one of my all-time Tigers rugby heroes and SOL ambassador Tim Stimpson.

Wow, what an honour as I was joined by my Special Olympics friends /athletes听 Zara Jurenko, Rachel Jarvis , Christina Lewis听 and others participating in this year's
Special Olympics. Leicester.

Christmas lights switch on

Lord Mayor's Ball

To cap an amazing month听 I was invited to attend the Lord Mayor's
annual Charity Ball at the Marriot Hotel. The Lord听 Mayor, Cllr Manjula
Sood,听 was joined by听 over 400 guests who attended the event to raise
funds for the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics Appeal.

We all had a lovely evening. I was placed at a table which included Ted
Cassidy - SOL Chair, Karen and Matt Wallin - SOGB and听 Richard Watson -
LCC's听 Director of Cultural Services. I was also delighted to meet
Leicester Ladies Hockey Team plus one of my favourite听 players, the
exceptionally talented听 Kerry Williams.

Don't forget to keep listening to 成人论坛 Radio Leicester on 104.9FM and DAB to support my Special Olympics colleagues who are regularly sharing their personal stories about their involvement with听 SOL 2009.

January 2009

Seven months to the games听 I can't wait!

To commemorate the 200 days to go landmark I joined the SOL team and fellow ambassadors including Steve Walsh and Alan Birchenall, along with my basketball team colleagues, to take part in a series of sporting workshops in the new Highcross Shopping Centre.听

The shoppers and those passing through the centre were in for an added treat as both SOGB gymnasts and footballers also joined in the sporting spectacular.听

Media attention

Once again the media partners were out in force with representation from my friends at 成人论坛 Radio Leicester's Khush Sameja, ITV and Leicester Mercury to help promote the 2009 Games and remind people about how important the event is to the city and nation and the Special Olympics movement.

To cap a memorable day, our SOGB Chair Lawrie McMenemy MBE did us all proud and was on top form! - well done Lawrie- by raising the profile of the Special Olympics on the Chris Evan's 成人论坛 Radio 2 show and in particular how everyone and anyone can make听 a difference by becoming involved with the 2009听 Summer Games in Leicester.

Our Special Olympics Leicester Group is now available on Facebook.听 Go direct to link听'Special Olympics Leicester' Facebook page by clicking below.

Help us to spread the word about the National Summer Games 2009 and the Special Olympics, after all听 the games are coming home to Leicester!

Rachel Jarvis, Steve Walsh and Lee

December 2008

It's been an other busy month as the message of the SOL 2009 games starts to pick up momentum with eight months to go.

Once of the many highlights includes helping our champion supporter, the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Manjula Sood and her family switch on the city's听Christmas Lights听 in the Town Hall square.听

What's a fantastic turn out from the public. The atmosphere was amazing.

It's these type of actions and kind gestures by the Leicester-shire public and supporters that make the Special Olympics a wonderful moment in our lives.

November 2008

The Special Olympics is starting to pick up momentum as we approach the nine months to go mark!听 I went to the Leicester Half Marathon at Victoria Park and helped the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Manjula Sood and Solly the lion to start the race.

Twenty one runners took part听 to help raise funds for the Lord Mayor's听 Special Olympics Appeal听 and raise the profile of the national games.

Teams of representatives听 from the Special Olympics Games Organising Committee, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Leicester City Council took part in the corporate relay and even some in the half marathon.听

On stage with Solly the mascot

October 2008

I went to the Paralympic handover event at Crown Hills Community College and听 we did a quiz about me and other Olympians like Dan Greaves and Rebecca Adlington.

We were given certificates and and we had photos done too.

Yesterday I was at an open day听Ellesmere College in Leicester and I bumped into Julie Mayer, radio reporter for 成人论坛 Radio Leicester, who was also there.

It was officially opened by Gary Linekar on September 4th 1995. I had a brilliant day as I was an ex-student there from September 1995 until July 2002.

We also discussed public transport and they said that we need loads of buses for the athletics to get to the Walkers Stadium for opening ceremony on 25 July 2009.

Transport for the games

We also went to a bus company meeting in Granby Street.

I met Arriva Bus manager Steve Smith and he said that we might be introducing weekly bus tickets for the games for families, volunteers and athletes to have a look around Leicester and also the new Highcross shopping centre.

Steve Humphries, Games Director, did a brilliant presentation about Special Olympics Leicester and John Dowson gave us a guided tour of the public transport room.

Lee Penfold's One Leicester poster

Live link to Beijing

I went to the One Leicester Event at Humberstone Gate. I watched the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on the big screen and we had a live link to Beijing.

Councillor Rory Palmer and I had the honour of putting up the London 2012 flag in Leicester city centre.

I met Steve Walsh, who's an ex-Leicester City footballer and an Ambassdor for the Special Olympics 2009.

I also met Leicester Sound Traffic Reporter Anna Moran.

August 2008

I went to the 365 Special Olympics Launch on 25 July 2008 at Town Hall Square in Leicester, which marked the date when it was exactly a year until the Special Olympics in Leicester would begin.

It was a brilliant day and I met loads of sports stars, including former Leicester Tigers player Tim Stimpson, snooker player Mark Selby and pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck.

Ted Cassidy, the Chairman of Special Olympics Leicester 2009, did a fantastic speech and mentioned some celebrities who are fans of the Special Olympics, including Martin Johnson, Gary Lineker, Alan Birchenall and and Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah.

The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Manjula Sood, did the honour of launching the countdown clock and you'll be able to see it at Town Hall Square between now and 25 July 25 next year.

Media Attention!

成人论坛 East Midlands Today's Colin Hazelden interviewed me and Ted Cassidy, and he asked what it's like to host the next Special Olympics in your home city.

Before the 365 Launch one I popped into 成人论坛 Radio Leicester and did an interview on the Breakfast Show with Ben Jackson.

It was brilliant to go on live radio for the first time - you can listen to my interview by clicking below.

Listen: Interview with Lee Penfold

On 10 July 2008 Lee came to 成人论坛 Leicester to speak to Ben Jackson about his role as a Special Ambassador...

SOL website is launched

The new Special Olympics Leicester (SOL) website is up and running now and the weblogs will be introduced at the end of August.

It's got video highlights from the launch - all there at a click of a button.

Click the link below to take a look:

July 2008

I went to the GOC (Games Organising Committee) Meeting at John Foster Hall in Oadby. It was my first time that I went to the meeting.

We discussed loads of topics including Public Transport - the manager who's in charge of it is John Dowson. We will be going to bus depots at Wigston, Thurmaston, Southgates, Coaville and maybe Hinckley, plus Abby Park depot for First buses.

Also we went to Saffron Lane Sports Stadium to do sports day, that was fun.

A Global Ambassador

I've been named now as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics GB and for Special Olympics Leicester. I've been in a magazine called Soar magazine, it's got previews of next years games coming to the city.

The new SOL Website has been delayed until 25 July for the Leicester games countdown clock launch.

BACKGROUND: Lee Penfold

I was appointed a 2009 Special Olympics Ambassador following the announcement of Leicester winning the bid on Friday 13 July 2007.

Since then I have been joined by other East Midlands Special Olympics athletes and a growing list听of sporting and community people.

They include former Leicester City football players Steve Walsh, Muzzy Izzet and Alan Birchenall; Lewis Moody, Tom Croft and Matt Hampson from Leicester Tigers Rugby Club; Paul Nixon from Leicestershire County Cricket Club; and Leicester snooker champion Mark Selby.

As is tradition with all Games, we already have two outstanding named Games Patrons,听Martin Johnson and Gary Lineker.

What is an Ambassador?

The role of an Ambassador in essence is about raising the profile of the event as we build up to the games in 2009.

It also means attending Special Olympics community events, fundraising and being a Special Olympics spokesperson and supporter.

I am an Athletes' Representative on the Special Olympics 2009 Organising Committee, as well as being an Ambassador.

I am responsible for co-ordinating all the views of the athletes attending the games and feeding them into the organising process to ensure the games meet the needs of those taking part.

The Special Olympics will involve 21 sports and will be spectacular!

One Leicester

I am also involved with promoting Leicester City Council's One Leicester campaign.

My poster is on the back of the First Buses in Leicester. I had a big photo shoot in the Shires Shopping Centre back in February 2008.