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Special Olympics athletes 'such an inspiration' says Cranberries singer Dolores
THE Special Olympics Ireland games, which began in Limerick this Thursday morning, were opened in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night as more than 15,000 people filled Thomond Park for the opening ceremony.
The athletes, their families and thousands of supporters enjoyed the unique occasion which was headlined by the Cranberries, who performed live in Limerick for the first time since 1993.
"You guys are such an inspiration, you're amazing, you're such an inspiration with so much courage hope and love," said lead singer Dolores O'Riordan as she took to the stage, which was specially erected on the North Terrace.
The huge crowds were also entertained by performances throughout the event from the Limerick Gospel Choir, The Munster Rugby Choir the Heathers and the Daghdha-Garvey initiative.
Five baskets of white doves were released into the stadium from the giant stage and there was also an impressive flyover by four Aer-Corps PC9 planes, which are based at Baldonnell Aerodrome.
Celebrities who attended on the night included MC's Des Cahill and Ian Dempsey, Breffny Morgan from the Apprentice, television presenter Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, Micheal O Muircheartaigh and rugby stars Paul O'Connell, Keith Wood and Simon Best.
Good luck messages from stars such as Colin Farrell, Westlife, Miriam O'Callaghan O'Callaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Bernard Dunne, Jon Voight, Brendan Gleeson and the late Gerry Ryan were played to the crowd on a giant television screen.
Congratulating the organisers and the athletes sports minister Mary Hanafin declared she was the "Minister of Fun" and she said: "Why do we want to be here? It is because we believe in you the athletes, because you believe that you can do it and that you can reach your own dreams and your own goals and in difficult times you put a smile on all of our faces, you show us what it is to get up and to achieve and to keep going."
Among those who attended the opening ceremony was Denis O'Brien, chairman of Special Olympics Ireland Council of Patrons. He paid tribute to all of those who sponsored the games, including JP McManus who donated €250,000.
"We knew it was going to be very challenging but Special Olympics touches so many people in Ireland, including families but also people in the commercial world and we always knew we'd get there," he said.
Mary Davis, chief executive of Special Olympics Europe, said she was thrilled with the success of the opening ceremony.
"It was amazing, the atmosphere was electric, the fact that so many people turned out to support the athletes, to applaud them and to acknowledge their abilities as well was fabulous and I can't say enough about the Limerick people and what they have done in preparation for these games, no stone was left unturned," she said.
Members of defence forces from Sarsfield Barracks were greeted with a standing ovation as they paraded the Special Olympics Flag around the stadium before it was raised high above the crowds.
However the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for the lighting of the Special Olympic torch following the arrival of the Flame of Hope into Thomond Park. The flame, which was accompanied by more than fifty members of the PSNI and An Garda Siochana, was carried across Ireland in the week leading up to the opening ceremony. A brass cauldron on the South Terrace will hold the flame of hope until the conclusion of the games on Sunday.
The Special Olympics Ireland games, which are worth more than €20 million to the mid west economy, is one of the biggest sporting events taking place in Ireland this year.
Over 1,900 athletes will particpate in 14 sports at venues across Limerick between now and Sunday.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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