Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, accompanied by the Chinese ambassador Zhang Xinsen met members of the Irish Special Olympics squad yesterday at Government Buildings and wished them well on the eve of their departure for the World Summer Games in China.
More than 140 athletes and 55 coaches will leave Dublin airport this morning for Shanghai, where the Special Olympics World Summer Games are being held from October 2nd-11th. Team Ireland will participate in 11 sports during the eight days of the games including aquatics, athletics, golf, gymnastics and football.
President Mary McAleese was at the Westmanstown Garda sports and leisure centre in Lucan yesterday evening for the Olympians' official send-off ceremony. "Our athletes have had to work and train very hard to earn their right to be on the road to Shanghai. We admire them for their talent, their determination and their spirit," she said.
Special Olympics Ireland chief executive Mary Davis said: "I know they will do us proud."
The ceremony marked the end of the Irish leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run - a global awareness and fundraising event prior to the games. The leg began on Sunday and has since visited 51 locations countrywide.
The torch was carried by four teams comprising members of the Garda, the PSNI, athletes and Eircom staff. Worldwide the torch and has been carried by 100,000 police officers.
