There's a lot of love in this stadium, observed a member of boyband Blue at the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003 in Dublin to the approving roar of the 70,000 strong crowd, writes Roisin Ingle.
But the musicians, politicians and actors - Westlife, Bertie Ahern, Mickey Harte et al - were only bit players in a night when the athletes, medals clinking around their necks, were the true stars.
The flag was lowered and the flame extinguished last night, but the indomitable spirit of these Games moved through Croke Park like the colourful Mexican waves executed expertly every few minutes by the crowd.
Everywhere, people doled out fierce hugs. Some of the 30,000 volunteers wiped tears from their eyes. Like the fellow said, a lot of love. With a haul of more than 300 medals, Team Ireland received one of the biggest cheers of the night as they walked, ran and danced into the stadium. "They are all delighted to be here but sad that it is all over. So there are mixed feelings," said Ms Myra O'Leary, from Co Cork, part of the management team.
Sisters Nicola (12) and Laura Munnelly (15) from Portmarnock, Co Dublin, had front row seats for the party and said the week had changed them. "We were hosts to people from New Zealand. "Before we met the athletes we didn't know what they would be like but now we are going to be really sad to see them go," said Laura.
There were emotional scenes around the stadium as the ceremony came an end. PSNI and Garda bikes roared on to the stage. The President, Mrs McAleese and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, participated in the ceremony where the Olympic flame was extinguished. A newly-lit torch was then presented to Ms Mandy Finlay, daughter of Mr Fergus Finlay, before the new flame was passed around the stadium from athlete to athlete.
Ms Mary Davis, chief executive of the Special Olympics said she was feeling "very proud" of everyone involved. Also present were actors Colin Farrell - who led a chorus of boos for Westlife manager Louis Walsh - and Jamie Lee Curtis, GAA president, Mr Sean Kelly, SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, Sinn Féin leader, Mr Gerry Adams, and Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne.
As the final goodbyes were said, Philippine athlete Michael Almendralla, wearing a Garda hat given to him in host town of Tramore, summed up the feeling most people shared last night: "I am not sad. I am filled up to the middle with happiness."