REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR THE IRISH OLYMPIC TEAM ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A RECEPTION FOR THE IRISH OLYMPIC TEAM ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN SATURDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2008
Dia dhíbh, a cháirde go léir, agus céad míle fáilte rómhaibh go léir chuig Áras an Uachtaráin inniu. Good afternoon Olympians, and welcome to the Áras.
Martin and I, and indeed all of us here in the Áras, are delighted—honoured—to welcome you back after your Beijing adventure. Over the month of August, the whole country was in thrall to China and the great Olympic spectacle. You were our focus of course and we followed your every move, every tear of joy and every heartache. You are our best and you competed with the world’s best.
For the rest of your lives, whether you won medals or whether you didn’t, you will always be Olympians, members of that tiny band of first-class international sportsmen and women who survived the most testing of ordeals to qualify for Beijing. Each one of you we know sacrificed so much to make the grade, to carry your country’s flag and we take pride in your commitment, your dedication and your performances whatever the outcome.
We take a very special pride in our Beijing boxers for Kenny, Darren and Paddy created a thrilling success story that is already a legend. You had us glued to screens at ungodly hours and generated something near to hysteria back home.
The competitors would be the first to acknowledge the help they received over many years from coaches, trainers, advisers, family and mentors and sponsors of all sorts. To them also a big thank you for the investment you have made in Irish sport and Ireland’s Olympians in particular. To those who organised and managed and assisted team Ireland in so many ways – the Irish Sports’ Council; the Irish Olympic Council who brought our team to Beijing; and to those indomitable broadcasters and writers who kept us up to date on all those events - a big thank you. China did the Olympics proud and you did Ireland proud.
On your behalf and that of Martin and myself, I would like to thank the gifted musicians of Ceoltas, whose music we are enjoying today. Thanks also to all who have helped with this event, especially the first-aiders and the staff here at the Áras who have all worked so hard to make today a success. Martin and I hope you have a great afternoon.