On 2 July athlete Sylvia Moffat lit the torch for the Special Olympics, signalling the beginning of the biggest sporting event in the UK this year.  A bumper crowd turned out for the opening ceremony at Celtic's Parkhead stadium in Glasgow.

The Special Olympics proved a great success, with over 2,500 athletes with learning disabilities taking part. Events included football, gymnastics, golf, powerlifting, cycling, badminton, kayaking, sailing, swimming and tennis.

Transportation for the games was organised by Allied Vehicles, who were selected to provide suitable vehicles for athletes with special needs. The fleet of vehicles included wheelchair accessible MPVs, minibuses and taxis to transport athletes to and from 10 venues across the city.

Vehicles employed to transport competitors to the competition arenas included a 17-seat Peugeot Monarch minibus carrying up to three wheelchair passengers; the Peugeot Independence - a multi-passenger vehicle featuring the unique EasyGlide™ under-floor pull-out ramp; and the Fiat Freedom - a spacious family car where the wheelchair passenger is safely secured and travels alongside the rear seated passenger.

Games transport co-ordinator Alistair Ross commented: "We were delighted to have Allied Vehicles on board to provide specialist transport for the Special Olympics. Every vehicle had a designated driver and group of athletes so they all got to know each other well. Having dedicated use of these vehicles transformed the whole experience of the games for the 'wheelies' (those athletes using wheelchairs) who were able to see and do so more than would otherwise have been the case."

Allied Vehicles chairman Michael Facenna stated: "We were delighted that the games organisers selected our vehicles to assist athletes. We consult closely with our customers and disability groups as we design and refine our product range so it's really rewarding to hear that all our vehicles performed well during this intensive and prestigious assignment."

Mr Facenna added: "The games were absolutely fantastic. Everyone put in a real effort and it really paid of."

More pictures from the event can be found here.