Olympic flame will arrive in Ireland today

Confirmation that all athletes from SARS-affected areas will be able to compete in the games gives organisers a boost.

The Special Olympics flame arrives in Ireland this morning, marking the beginning of a week of activities in towns and villages across the island which culminate in the opening ceremony of the games in Croke Park.

The torch, which has travelled 15,000 km across Europe from Athens, will make a dramatic entrance to Bangor, Co Down, when a police officer carrying the flame is winched by helicopter from a naval ship to the town's marina.

In a symbolic move, the torch will be received by the Assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Mr Duncan McCausland, and the Deputy Garda Commissioner, Mr Peter Fitzgerald. Some 160 officers from the PSNI and Garda Síochána will help carry the flame to 130 towns, cities and villages before the official flame-lighting ceremony in Croke Park on Saturday, June 21st.

The expectant mood among the organisers in advance of the arrival of the flame was given a further boost yesterday when it was confirmed that all Special Olympics athletes from SARS-affected areas will be able to compete in the games.

Athletes from the Taiwan team were officially given permission to travel after health authorities said their proposal to travel to a virus-free area in advance of the Olympics was acceptable.

"We're thrilled," Mr Julian Davis, a spokesman for the games organising committee, said. "We want to thank the Department of Health's expert group for facilitating the arrival of the team in such a way that makes us feel comfortable about the SARS issue."

There was further delight when it emerged that the Iraqi team would also be able to travel to the games despite the ravages of war. A search got under way for the athletes and team members after the conflict and they were eventually located, despite communications problems.

Kingscourt, Co Cavan, and chairman of the games organising committee, Mr Denis O'Brien, helped to provide transport from Iraq to Ireland.

Ms Mary Davis, the chief executive of the games, said: "People with a learning disability overcome great obstacles every day of their lives. These Iraqi athletes have had to overcome that and much more. They are an inspiration to all of us."

However, there is still doubt whether a small group of athletes from the Palestinian Special Olympics team, who are stranded in the Gaza Strip due to the worsening violence in the region, will be able to travel to the games.

The chairman of the Kinsale host town committee, Mr Gary Fitzsimons, said they had been in contact with government officials and were confident the team would arrive as planned.

Nepal's 11-strong delegation is the first of the 160 teams due to arrive at Dublin Airport over the weekend.

The teams will take part in the host town programme for four days before the beginning of the games.

Further details of the opening ceremony were announced yesterday, including the names of celebrities from the worlds of sport and show business who will walk alongside the teams as they make their entrance into Croke Park on Saturday week.

They include actor Colin Farrell, Formula One driver Eddie Jordan and Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks.