2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

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The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games were hosted in Dublin, Ireland, with participants staying in various host towns around the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland) in the lead up to the games before moving to Dublin for the events.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Events were held from 21 to 29 June 2003 at many venues including Morton Stadium, the Royal Dublin Society, the National Basketball Arena, all in Dublin. Croke Park served as the central stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, even though no actual competitions took place there. Belfast, Northern Ireland was the venue for roller skating events (at the Kings Hall), as well as the Special Olympics Scientific Symposium (held from 19 to 20 June).

The Games

2003 Special Olympics Opening Crowd
The crowd at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies in Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland as Team USA enters the stadium

The 2003 World Games were the first to be held outside of the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was the largest sporting event held in 2003.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held in Croke Park and featured an array of stars and was hosted by comedian Patrick Kielty.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band U2 were a major feature, and Nelson Mandela officially opened the games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other performances included The Corrs and the largest Riverdance troupe ever assembled on one stage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 75,000 athletes and spectators were in attendance at the opening ceremonies. Irish and international celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jon Bon Jovi walked with the athletes, with Muhammad Ali as a special guest and Manchester United and Republic of Ireland football player Roy Keane taking the athletes oath with one of the Special Olympians.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Games Flame was lit at the culmination of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which more than 2,000 members of the Garda Síochána (Irish Police) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland took part in. This was a series of relays carrying the Special Olympics Torch, the "Flame of Hope", from Europe to the Games' official opening.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2003 Special Olympics commemorative coin
2003 Special Olympics commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland

The ceremony was officially opened by President of Ireland Mary McAleese and attended by Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Bertie Ahern.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto1" />

Organisation

The organising committee, which was formed in 1999 following the success of the bid, was chaired by entrepreneur Denis O'Brien.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The chief executive was Mary Davis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The 2003 games were the first to have their opening and closing schemes broadcast on live television, and Radio Telefís Éireann provided extensive coverage of the events through their 'Voice of the Games' radio station which replaced RTÉ Radio 1 on Medium Wave for the duration of the event.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was also a nightly television highlight programme.

Among the activities carried out during the Games were thorough medical checks on the athletes, some of whom had previously undiagnosed conditions uncovered, as some of the athletes came from countries with limited medical facilities or had difficulty communicating their symptoms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A daily newspaper, the Games Gazette was published for each day of the games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Among the contributors to the Games was the Irish Prison Service. Prisoners in Mountjoy Prison, Midlands Prison, Wheatfield Prison and Arbour Hill Prison who constructed podiums and made flags, towels, signs, benches and other equipment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Volunteer programme

30,000 volunteer officials and support staff assisted in the running of the games, including 900 staff of the Bank of Ireland who coordinated the host town programme,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 800 members of the Irish Defence Forces who maintained the radio communication network, and provided support for bridge building, security duties, VIP drivers, standard bearers for ceremonial events.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta and St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland provided emergency medical teams at the event sites. Approximately 1,300 members of both Scouting Ireland (CSI) and Scouting Ireland SAI staffed the Awards Teams for all the disciplines throughout the games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 165 volunteers from the then 15 countries of the EU took part in a European Volunteer Project (EVS), the first ever to be organized in event-related mode. The volunteers are commemorated by having their names on a series of plaques situated in Dublin Castle, just outside the Chester Beatty Library.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Participating teams

Approximately 6500 athletes from 166 countries competed in the games in 18 official disciplines, and three exhibition sports.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The participants from Kosovo were the region's first team at an international sporting event.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>- A 12-member team from Iraq received special permission to attend the games, despite ongoing war in their home nation. Ireland was represented by an all-island team with athletes from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Athletes from Taiwan competed under the name "Chinese Taipei".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Athletes from the United States were grouped into eight regional teams; Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, North Central, North West, South Central, South East, South West.<ref name="auto" />

Ireland's Department of Health has initially bared athletes from areas affected by the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. This affected athletes from parts of China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan; as well as Toronto in Canada.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However no country was ultimate banned from participating with Hong Kong and Taiwan's athletes undergoing quarantine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The following teams participated, grouped by Special Olympics regions:

Africa

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Asia Pacific

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East Asia

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Europe and Eurasia

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Latin America

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Middle East and North Africa

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North America

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Host town programme

177 towns, cities and villages and the Aran Islands hosted national delegations in the run up to the games.<ref name="auto1" /> Each town ran programmes to educate the local community about the customs of the country they would host and provided facilities for the teams to acclimatise.<ref name = MK>Template:Cite news</ref> Newbridge, County Kildare, host to the Japan delegation won the award for best host town.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

No Visiting Country Host Town(s)<ref name = MK/> County of Host Town(s)
1 Albania Loughrea Galway
2 Algeria Ballinrobe and Clonbur Mayo and Galway
3 American Samoa Dunlavin Wicklow
4 Andora Antrim Borough Antrim
5 Antigua and Barbuda Bangor Down
6 Argentina Derry Londonderry
7 Armenia Ennistymon Clare
8 Aruba Mallow Cork
9 Australia Armagh Armagh
10 Austria Limerick Limerick
11 Azerbaijan Shannon Clare
12 Template:Sortname Dungarvan Waterford
13 Bahrain Rathdrum Wicklow
14 Bangladesh Ashbourne Meath
15 Barbados Portarlington Laois
16 Belarus Bandon Cork
17 Belgium Navan Meath
18 Benin Tubbercurry Sligo
19 Bermuda Lisburn Antrim/Down
20 Bolivia Tullow Carlow
21 Bonaire Gorey Wexford
22 Bosnia and Herzegovina Carrick-on-Shannon Leitrim
23 Botswana Trim Meath
24 Brazil Maynooth Kildare
25 Bulgaria Monasterevin Kildare
26 Burkina Faso Bunclody Wexford
27 Cameroon An Spidéal Galway
28 Canada Enniscorthy Wexford
29 Cayman Islands Strabane Tyrone
30 Chad Swinford Mayo
31 Chile Athy Kildare
32 China Bray Wicklow
33 Chinese Taipei Portlaoise Laois
34 Congo Mohill Leitrim
35 Costa Rica Drogheda Louth
36 Côte d'Ivoire Callan Kilkenny
37 Croatia Greystones Wicklow
38 Cuba Cashel Tipperary
39 Cyprus Tipperary Tipperary
40 Czech Republic Skibbereen Cork
41 Denmark Clonakilty Cork
42 Dominican Republic Ballinasloe Galway
43 Ecuador Mountbellew Galway
44 Egypt Tuam Galway
45 Estonia Clifden Galway
46 Faroe Islands Carrickfergus Antrim
47 Finland Buncrana Donegal
48 France Ballina Mayo
49 Gabon Mitchelstown Cork
50 Template:Sortname Manorhamilton Leitrim
51 Georgia Kilrush Clare
52 Germany Kilkenny Kilkenny
53 Ghana Cahir Tipperary
54 Gibraltar Sligo Sligo
55 Greece Dundalk Louth
56 Guadeloupe Limavady Londonderry
57 Guatemala New Ross Wexford
58 Guinea Kilmore Quay Wexford
59 Guyana Ardee Louth
60 Honduras Banbridge Down
61 Hong Kong Clonmel Tipperary
62 Hungary Donegal Donegal
63 Iceland Newry Armagh
64 India Athlone Roscommon/Westmeath
65 Indonesia Abbeyleix Laois
66 Iran Macroom Cork
67 Ireland Celbridge, Kilcock, Leixlip and Lucan Kildare and Dublin
68 Isle of Man Rathangan Kildare
69 Israel Ballymena Antrim
70 Italy Killarney Kerry
71 Jamaica Waterford Waterford
72 Japan Newbridge Kildare
73 Jordan Listowel and Tarbert Kerry
74 Kazakhstan Milltown Malbay Clare
75 Kenya Kilcullen Kildare
76 South Korea Borrisokane Tipperary
77 Kosovo Edenderry Offaly
78 Kuwait Castlerea Roscommon
79 Kyrgyzstan Pallasgreen Limerick
80 Latvia Kells Meath
81 Lebanon Mullingar Westmeath
82 Lesotho Cahersiveen Kerry
83 Libya Templemore Tipperary
84 Liechtenstein Carrigaline and Crosshaven Cork
85 Lithuania Clones Monaghan
86 Luxembourg Newport and Westport Mayo
87 Macau Ballybofey and Stranorlar Donegal
88 F.Y.R. of Macedonia Oldcastle Meath
89 Malaysia Banagher Offaly
90 Mali Kanturk Cork
91 Malta Thurles Tipperary
92 Martinique Newcastle West and Rathkeale Limerick
93 Mauritania Drumshanbo Leitrim
94 Mauritius Boyle Roscommon
95 Mexico Cork and Blarney Cork
96 Moldova Castleisland Kerry
97 Monaco Carrickmacross Monaghan
98 Morocco Tullamore Offaly
99 Namibia Cookstown Tyrone
100 Nepal Virginia Cavan
101 Template:Sortname Enniskillen Fermanagh
102 New Zealand Naas Kildare
103 Nigeria Killybegs Donegal
104 Norway Magherafelt Londonderry
105 Oman Youghal Cork
106 Pakistan Balbriggan Dublin
107 Palestine Kinsale Cork
108 Panama Newtownabbey Antrim
109 Paraguay Coleraine Londonderry
110 Peru Mountmellick Laois
111 Template:Sortname Tramore Waterford
112 Poland Wexford Wexford
113 Portugal Aran Islands Galway
114 Puerto Rico Kiltimagh Mayo
115 Qatar Ballaghaderreen Roscommon
116 Réunion Portumna Galway
117 Romania Midleton Cork
118 Russia Ennis and Ballyea Clare
119 San Marino Fermoy Cork
120 Saudi Arabia Roscrea Tipperary
121 Senegal Ballygar Galway
122 Seychelles Baltinglass Wicklow
123 Sierra Leone Castleblaney Monaghan
124 Singapore Arklow Wicklow
125 Slovakia Carrick-on-Suir, Rathgormack and Clonea-Power Tipperary and Waterford
126 Slovenia Carlow Carlow
127 South Africa Dingle Kerry
128 Spain Omagh Tyrone
129 Saint Kitts and Nevis Nenagh Tipperary
130 Saint Lucia Thomastown Kilkenny
131 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ballymoney Antrim
132 Sudan Bagenalstown Carlow
133 Suriname Waterville Kerry
134 Sweden Newcastle Down, Dublin or Wicklow (not specified)
135 Switzerland Kenmare Kerry
136 Syria Wicklow Wicklow
137 Tajikistan Abbeyfeale Kerry
138 Tanzania Claremorris Mayo
139 Thailand Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula Louth
140 Togo Athboy Meath
141 Trinidad and Tobago Letterkenny Donegal
142 Tunisia Monaghan and Ballybay Monaghan
143 Turkey Cavan Cavan
144 Turkmenistan Bruff Limerick
145 Uganda Roscommon Roscommon
146 Ukraine Lisdoonvarna and Doolin Clare
147 United Arab Emirates Longford Longford
148 United States Belfast Antrim/Down
149 Uruguay Dungloe Donegal
150 Uzbekistan Kilkee Clare
151 Venezuela Castlebar Mayo
152 Virgin Islands Newtownards Down
153 Yemen Charleville Cork
154 F.R. of Yugoslavia Gort Galway
155 Zambia Cootehill Cavan
156 Zimbabwe Craigavon Armagh

Events

Athletes and coaches such as Lleyton Hewitt and his coach Roger Rasheed (tennis);<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Seve Ballesteros,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sandy Lyle and Andrew Marshall (golf),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mick O'Dwyer (Gaelic football) and Brian Kerr (soccer) met and encouraged athletes at events during the games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Events and venues were:<ref>Special Olympics, p.7; {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}; Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Div col

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References

Sources

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Citations

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