Flame of Hope carried through Dublin

Thousands of people turned out in Dublin this morning to watch the Special Olympics Flame being carried through the streets of…

Thousands of people turned out in Dublin this morning to watch the Special Olympics Flame being carried through the streets of Dublin.

Under a hazey Summer sky, 110 law enforcement officers and ten athletes carried the flame through the streets to a reception at Customs House Quay.

The flame was then split in two and handed over to the Garda Sub Aqua Club who carried the flame along the Liffey to O'Connell Bridge where it was reunited with the main Torch Run team and taken to Dublin Castle.

Meanwhile, last-minute preparations are being completed in Croke Park for what promises to be a spectacular opening ceremony. Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali will be in attendance along with actor Arnold Schwarzenneger, U2 and thousands of athletes and wellwishers.

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10,000 temporary chairs have been laid on the pitch at Croke Park to provide even more seating for the event, bringing the seating capacity up to 85,000. To protect Ireland's most famous pitch, 15,000 square metres of special covering have been laid.