Hong Kong pulls out of host town scheme

The Hong Kong team for the Special Olympics has pulled out of the host town programme, the Games' organisers announced last night.

A spokesman, Mr Julian Davis, said the decision by the team of 60 athletes, their coaches and families had nothing to do with the recent move by town councillors in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, not to accept the team. The councillors had cited concerns about SARS for their decision earlier this month.

Clonmel had been designated as Hong Kong's host town for the four days before the games begin in mid-June.

Mr Davis said the team had written to the organisers to say that, to comply with the request to undergo a 10-day period of isolation before coming to Ireland, they would have to opt out of the four-day programme before the games.

"It is a sensible decision," said Mr Davis. "The athletes, their coaches and helpers are all volunteers. To undergo the isolation will take 10 days, the host town programme would be four days, then the games themselves are 10 days."

The mayor of Clonmel, Mr Niall Dennehy, said last night the council heard of the team's decision "with a sense of relief".

The countries asked to undergo a 10-day isolation period before coming to Ireland are: Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Canada.

Mr Davis said the organisers had not heard from the other SARS-affected countries as to whether they were considering pulling out of the host town programme. Those teams are due to stay in Bray, Arklow, Portlaoise and Enniscorthy.