Special Olympics volunteers in Miltown Malbay found themselves with a dilemma earlier this week when they discovered that their Kazakhstan visitors had brought little more luggage than their roller skates and the clothes they were wearing.
The 53-strong team arrived in the west Clare town on Tuesday morning. When the volunteers were helping the younger athletes to prepare for bed, they discovered that the bags contained very little.
"When we looked in the bags, all they had was their gear for roller-blading and some tee-shirts that the Special Olympics committee had given them in Dublin," volunteer Ms Carol McNamara said.
The Penneys shop in Ennis presented the team with almost €900 worth of clothes and nightwear. Dunnes Stores nearby also contributed clothing and footwear, while Tesco presented hampers.
"They were thrilled with themselves. They were going around on their roller-blades wearing their new nightdresses," Ms McNamara said. "It was a humbling experience."
In preparation for their departure to Dublin today, the host town committee made up gift packs for the team. "If they had got a million dollars, they couldn't have been happier," said Ms Caragh Vaughan, host town secretary.
"Some of them come from orphanages and institutions and they value everything they get. At night time, they pack everything they have away into their bags in case they are taken. It was quite sad to see," she said.
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