Seven Illawarra basketballers will take on the opportunity of a lifetime when they represent Australia at the 2013 Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games.

The players, Dane Pritchard (Balgownie), Shane Monks (Shellharbour), Tim Walsh (Gwynneville), Neb Stanojlovic (Warilla), Grant Francis (Kiama), Tahlia Henson (Kiama) and West McKinnon (Berkeley), will leave the Illawarra tomorrow and travel up to Newcastle for the Games, which run from December  1 to 7.

The event brings together 32 nations competing in nine sports – basketball, athletics, aquatics, badminton, bocce, cricket, football, table tennis and tenpin bowling. 

More than 2500 athletes and their carers, 6000 officials, 4000 volunteers and over 200,000 spectators are expected to take part.

Special Olympics Illawarra vice-chairwoman Amanda Koloski said to have seven players selected to play basketball for Australia was a huge achievement given Special Olympics Illawarra had only been running for two years.

Koloski’s sister, Lisa Keen, has  been selected as an athletes ambassador for the Games. Keen has represented Australia twice in Special Olympics but is unable to play this time after having major brain surgery for Tourette’s syndrome. 

‘‘As an ambassador she’ll meet and greet athletes arriving at the airport and she’ll also say a speech at the opening ceremony...it’s huge for her,’’ Koloski said.

Players  train every Friday at the Snakepit and more recently Berkeley, coached by Rudi Kolednik and Leanne Secombe.

The players will be graded into different national grade teams at the Games.

Shane Monks, 23,   said it was pretty special to be selected.

‘‘It makes me proud. I want to win gold at Newcastle.’’

West McKinnon and Tim Walsh had been playing with the Jammers since they were eight and nine and both were thrilled, excited and proud to represent Australia, while for Grant Francis, who got into the sport four years ago, it was the realisation of his dream.

‘‘They’ve been training extremely hard for this – to represent your country in your country is a big thing for all of them,’’ Koloski said.

‘‘They’re extremely excited – you talk to them and the tears flow just to mention it... and as a region we’ve very proud.’’

The Games cost $3000 per athlete so the players’ families and supporters, led by co-ordinator Richard Keen,  have been raising funds by running raffles and barbecues and selling cupcakes.

Koloski said gold medals would be nice but the main thing was for the players to enjoy the experience.