REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE, AT THE OPENING OF THE 2003 SPECIAL OLYMPICS
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE, AT THE OPENING OF THE 2003 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES CROKE PARK, DUBLIN
Ceád míle fáilte - a hundred thousand welcomes to our superb special athletes, their coaches, families, friends, volunteers, sponsors and supporters. We have been looking forward to this day for a very long time. Ireland is famous for its warm welcome but never in the history of our country has there been a bigger or better welcome for anyone than the welcome prepared for the world’s best special athletes.
We are delighted to be the first country outside the United States to host this spectacular event. For months, thousands of people have been working hard to make sure that wherever you come from in the world, here in Ireland, you will feel completely at home. You have also worked incredibly hard to get here. Each special athlete is already a champion and now you are representing your country, on the international stage, competing with the best in the world.
We are at the start of a week that none of us will ever forget - a week when you will share with us that magical feeling of participation in the Special Olympic World Games. We know that each of you hopes to win and we know too that whether you win or not, each of you will be brave in the attempt.
Thank you for coming to Ireland. We are very proud to have you here and we are proud of the wonderful way this small island, north, south, east and west has opened its heart to you, our special visitors. We are willing each of you on to great success. We wish you fun, laughter, happy memories and the gift of new friendships. Between us all may we fulfil our dream of making these the best games ever.