The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games (Irish: Cluichí Samhraidh Oilimpeacha Speisialta 2003) were hosted in DublinIreland, with participants staying in various host towns around the island in the lead up to the games before moving to Dublin for the events.[1] Events were held from 21 to 29 June 2003 at many venues including Morton Stadium, the Royal Dublin Society, the National Basketball Arena, all in Dublin. Croke Park served as the central stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, even though no competitions took place there. Belfast, Northern Ireland was the venue for roller skating events (at the Kings Hall), as well as the Special Olympics Scientific Symposium (held from 19 to 20 June).
11th Special Olympics World Summer Games 11ú Cluichí Samhraidh Domhanda na gCluichí Oilimpeacha Speisialta
The Games Flame was lit at the culmination of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which more than 2,000 members of the Garda Síochána (Irish Police) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland took part in. This was a series of relays carrying the Special Olympics Torch, the "Flame of Hope", from Europe to the Games' official opening.[9][10]
The 2003 games were the first to have their opening and closing schemes broadcast on live television, and Radio Telefís Éireann provided extensive coverage of the events through their 'Voice of the Games' radio station which replaced RTÉ Radio 1 on Medium Wave for the duration of the event.[14] There was also a nightly television highlight programme.
Among the activities carried out during the Games were thorough medical checks on the athletes, some of whom had previously undiagnosed conditions uncovered, as some of the athletes came from countries with limited medical facilities or had difficulty communicating their symptoms.[15]
A daily newspaper, the Games Gazette was published for each day of the games.[16]
30,000 volunteer officials and support staff assisted in the running of the games, including 900 staff of the Bank of Ireland who coordinated the host town programme,[18][19] and 800 members of the Irish Defence Forces who maintained the radio communication network, and provided support for bridge building, security duties, VIP drivers, standard bearers for ceremonial events.[20] The Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta and St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland provided emergency medical teams at the event sites. Approximately 1,300 members of both Scouting Ireland (CSI) and Scouting Ireland SAI staffed the Awards Teams for all the disciplines throughout the games.[21] 165 volunteers from the then 15 countries of the EU took part in a European Volunteer Project (EVS), the first ever to be organized in event-related mode. The volunteers are commemorated by having their names on a series of plaques situated in Dublin Castle, just outside the Chester Beatty Library.[22]
Participating teamsedit
Approximately 6500 athletes from 166 countries competed in the games in 18 official disciplines, and three exhibition sports.[23][24] The participants from Kosovo were the region's first team at an international sporting event.[25][26]- A 12-member team from Iraq received special permission to attend the games, despite ongoing war in their home nation. Ireland was represented by an all-island team with athletes from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.[27] Athletes from Taiwan competed under the name "Chinese Taipei".[28] Athletes from the United States were grouped into eight regional teams; Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, North Central, North West, South Central, South East, South West.[24]
The following teams participated, grouped by Special Olympics regions:
177 towns, cities and villages and the Aran Islands hosted national delegations in the run up to the games.[8] Each town ran programmes to educate the local community about the customs of the country they would host and provided facilities for the teams to acclimatise. Newbridge, County Kildare, host to the Japan delegation won the award for best host town.[29]
Office of the Tánaiste (1997). "Report of the interdepartmental group established to examine the feasibility of Ireland making a bid to host the Special Olympics World games in 2003" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office.
"Perceptions of the Special Olympics Experience; 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games" (PDF). Special Olympics.
Citationsedit
^"The Sun Never Sets on the Special Olympics Movement". Special Olympics. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
^Tierney, Lynn (August 2003). "A Very Special Olympics". IrishAmerica.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020.
^"Special Olympics 2003 - Ten Years On". RTÉ Sport. 21 June 2013.
^"Patrick Kielty, MC speaking to the audience at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Croke Park Dublin 2003". 17 November 2010 – via Flickr.
^Russell, Adrian (21 June 2013). "18 images that will remind you how amazing the Special Olympics opening ceremony was". The 42.
^"Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremony 21st June 2003". 21 June 2003.
^"ShowBiz Ireland - Special Olympics 2003 comes to town". www.showbiz.ie.
^ abcNugent, Ryan (17 June 2023). "Legacy of 2003 Special Olympics remains strong as Irish athletes descend on Berlin for a tilt at glory". Independent.ie.
^"Marketing contribution to Torch Run After Action Report" (pdf). SpecialOlympics.org. 2003.
^"Cheering crowds welcome Olympic flame". IrishExaminer.com. 13 June 2003.
^"President of Ireland, Mary McAleese at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Croke Park, Dublin 2003". 17 November 2010 – via Flickr.
^"Defence Forces to chip in for Special Olympics". Irish Examiner. 21 May 2003.
^"Now let the 2003 Games begin". Independent.ie. 19 June 2003.
^Little, Rebecca (9 December 2003). "Sculpture for Olympics volunteers unveiled". The Irish Times.
^"2003 Special Olympics Competition Results". www.2003specialolympics.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
^ ab"2003 World Summer Games". www.2003specialolympics.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
^"Team Kosovo". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
^"2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games > EE.SO Kosovo". Archived from the original on 19 September 2008.
^"Special Olympics: Ireland celebrate seven up medal heaven". 27 June 2003 – via BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.
^"2003 World Summer Games > EA.SO Chinese Taipei". www.2003specialolympics.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
^"Newbridge wins Bank of Ireland Host Town of the Year Award". Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003. Archived from the original on 24 January 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
^Foley, Cliona (23 June 2003). "Seve tees off with golfing athletes". Independent.ie.
^McDonagh, Marese (24 June 2003). "Stars still around as Bertie boos fall on deaf ears". Independent.ie.
^George, Bill (24 December 2003). "Special Olympics light up the year". Irish Examiner.
^Special Olympics, p.7; Condon, Deborah. "The Special Olympics is here". IrishHealth.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.; Heffernan, Breda (27 June 2003). "Tipp boys vital to Ireland". Independent.ie. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
External linksedit
2003 World Games official website (Archived)
Official list of nations and athletes
Host Town list
Special Olympics 2003 Results
Irish Prison Service release on their inmates work for the Special Olympics