Macnas drummers lead welcome for torchbearers

Macnas drummers marked the arrival of the Special Olympics flame in Galway's Eyre Square yesterday evening on the fourth day of its circuit of the island.

Garda Frank Keane, based at Galway's Mill Street station, carried the flame into the city centre with Georgian Special Olympics athlete, Dale Jones.

As all four running teams converged on the Tuam Road for the final mile, representatives of the local Garda Síochána joined up with the multinational law enforcement officers for a welcome from Mayor of Galway, Councillor Val Hanley.

An estimated 3,500 spectators swarmed into the square to witness the event, and the musical line-up included Simon Casey, the "almost" Eurovision representative, and several school bands, including Tirellan and St Patrick's National School.

Also among the special guests in the square's "gig rig" were the chairman of the Special Olympics, Mr Denis O'Brien, and the British Ambassador, Mr Stewart Eldon, who was accompanied by his wife, Christine. Galway is host city to the British team and the ambassador spent most of yesterday with the athletes. He was also a guest of honour at a civic reception last night in the Radisson Hotel.

Earlier, the flame was given a rousing reception in Tuam, which is host town for the Egyptian team. Schools closed and some 2,500 people gathered in the local stadium for a ceremony which was attended by the Egyptian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Ashraf Rashed.

"Egypt, Egypt, Egypt," chanted the crowd, and then "Tuam, Tuam, Tuam." The 59 visiting athletes clapped and chanted in return. One of the four running routes also wound its way yesterday through Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, which is hosting Puerto Rico. It has the added distinction of being home town to Ms Mary Davis, chief executive officer of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games.

The British team specifically requested accommodation en bloc, rather than among separate host families, for its Irish visit. Mr Eamon Bradshaw, chairman, and his fellow host town committee members rose to the occasion,both financially and logistically, and booked the university student village for the week.

"We have had a wonderful time so far, and we couldn't be better looked after," Mr Gordon McCormack, head of the British delegation, remarked yesterday at an art exhibition in the city library. The exhibition comprised entries from schools in and around Galway on the Special Olympics theme.

Mr McCormack, suitably attired for the warm temperatures in a kilt, has attended Special Olympics World Games for 20 years now. He says that the Galway welcome is the best he has experienced ("I'm not just saying that!" he swore) and the event has changed enormously since its inception.

"We have 190 athletes competing in 16 sports ranging from volleyball to sailing, and we also have 550 parents coming over to watch. There was a time when parents used that break as a form of respite care for themselves - understandably - but now they want to be there for every bit."

Mr Michael Kennett from Portsmouth is a member of the British sailing team, which will train from Galway Bay Sailing Club's premises near Oranmore this week. His most immediate challenge for the World Games was taking his first ever aeroplane flight to Ireland, he said.