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SKIBBEREEN WELCOMES THE CZECHS REPUBLIC SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM The first full day's stay of the Czech Republic Special Olympics Team in West Cork enjoyed the best of West Cork weather and the best of West Cork hospitality. Fifteen volunteers accompanied Skibbereen Host Town Committee members and members of the Civil Defence to Cork airport for the arrival of the Czech Delegation around 11 p.m. on Monday 16th June. Czech Republic banners, flags, bunting and scores of balloons in the Czech colours provided a striking visual welcome. Resounding cheers from the Skibbereen welcoming committee, greeted the 76 strong Czech Delegation as they entered the Arrivals Hall. Aer Rianta staff at Cork airport were on hand to help smooth the arrival of the Czech Delegation and to facilitate the team from RTE who were filming the event. Although the arrival in Skibbereen of the three coaches supplied and staffed by Dave Long Coaches was around 1 a.m. teams of volunteers were waiting at the Eldon and West Cork Hotels to help with luggage and generally welcome and settle in the guests. Tuesday 17th dawned as fine and clear as the Czech Delegation split into groups visiting all National Schools in Skibbereen and its environs. The National Schools had been preparing for some time to welcome the Czech athletes and had made considerable efforts, making flags and welcome posters in the Czech language. St Patrick's Boys School had raised €1,000 in the Sponsor and Athlete Programme and were delighted to have their designated athlete, Antonin Mike present at the School. Mr Fachtna Hamilton, Principal of St Patrick's Boys' School made a presentation to Antonin to commemorate his visit. The boys of St Patrick's played tin whistle, sang and entertained the Czech athletes who thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the entertainment. The girls in St Joseph's School entertained the Czech delegation both in song and dance. A dance routine included the children in wheelchairs from the Special Class in St Josephs. The girls also played music, had Irish dancers in full costume and the Czech Delegations visit culminated with a tree planting ceremony in the school grounds. All groups from the Czech Delegation met at The Rectory, Glandore, where the O'Brien family had literally put out the red carpet to greet the Delegation. A Grand Piano, supplied free of charge by Jeffers of Bandon, was on the lawn in front of the Rectory, in the sunshine, overlooking Glandore Harbour. Pianist, Paul O'Donnell, from Cork, had travelled down to play for the Czech Delegation free of charge. Ann O'Neill, from the Flower Basket in Clonakilty, provided magnificent floral displays throughout the dining rooms and for the grand piano, again free of charge. All the staff at The Rectory gave their time for free. They said that they were delighted to do so as it made them feel part of the occasion. Skibbereen Host Town Committee thanked, Brenda, the Head Chef, David, Chef and, Michelle, Kara, Miureann, Deirdre, Phil, Francois, Denis, Ciara, Hannah, Sarah-Jane, Mhairi and Eilis. Liam Hodnett, Chairman of Skibbereen Host Town Committee, whilst thanking the staff also thanked Sean, Teresa and Michelle O'Brien who had also provided all drinks, which were non alcoholic, free of charge. After a magnificent meal there was time for songs and music in the dining rooms before the Czech Delegation headed off to the Long Strand, where some of the Delegation and some of the Host Town Committee enjoyed a paddle. Skibbereen Town Council provided a Civic Reception for the Czech Delegation at the Cope Hostel in Mill Road which the Czech Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Petr Kolar, attended. The athletes were delighted with their welcome and especially enjoyed the West Cork Choral Singers who sang the Czech National Anthem in Czech. Nancy and Miriam Long provided delightful background music during the reception and accompanied Tara Hegarty who entertained the visitors with Irish dancing. The Delegation walked through Skibbereen to the CoAction work centre in Rossa Road where members of CoAction had prepared a traditional Irish stew for around the 200 who enjoyed the meal both indoors and outdoors in the centre. Beef was donated by Skibbereen family butchers and desserts were provided free of charge by the Altar Restaurant in Goleen. Skibbereen Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann rounded off a great first day in West Cork for the Czech Delegation by playing music and dancing sets in the hall of the CoAction work centre. The Czech Delegation musicians were quick to join in the spirit of the evening and played their part in entertaining the crowd who enjoyed a great night of music and dance. Grateful thanks were extended to all the volunteers who had enabled Skibbereen Host Town Committee to provide a memorable day for the Czech athletes.

SKIBBEREEN DREAM TEAM There were plaudits all round for the members of Skibbereen Host Town Committee, headed up by Chairman, Liam Hodnett, for what has proved to be one of the most heart warming and rewarding events held in the town. The 77 strong Czech Republic Special Olympics Delegation proved to be a delight to have as guests in West Cork as their friendly and embracing personalities spun a web drawing the whole community together. The party spirit of Skibbereen's Farewell Parade on Friday 20th, continued from the West Cork Hotel, as the parade kicked off, right through to the Playground where buses were waiting to take the athletes onwards on their journey. Skibbereen Fire Brigade, who had given rides on the Fire Engines to the athletes on the Friday morning, headed the parade, which was joined by National schools from as far away as Leap, floats from local businesses, the Bandon Pipe Band, youth and sporting groups from the town, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, St Patrick and other characters. Skibbereen streets were thronged with people in the bright sunshine, cheering the Czech Team on, wishing them good luck in the World Summer Games. Participants in the parade provided a guard of honour at the Court House and St Fachtna's as the Czech Team said farewell to the townspeople, which resulted in tears from athletes and hosts as the visitors went on their way. Headed by Chairman of Skibbereen Town Council, Mr Bernie Daly, bearing the Czech Republic Flag, Councillors and the Town Clerk, Ms Noreen Murphy, walked the coaches carrying the Czech Republic team out of the town. The few days the team stayed in West Cork demonstrated the spirit of generosity and welcomes that Ireland is renown for. From the pub who provided trays of drinks for those in the parade through the town on the Friday, to individuals who slipped money into the hands and pockets of the Czech Delegation during their visit, the baskets of treats delivered to the two hotels and the person who thought of changing the T.V.'s in the Hotels to the Czech channel, the music shop who loaned a guitar to a Czech athlete and the restaurant where the staff pushed the tables back after lunch to set dance with the visitors, there are dozens of stories circulating around town about the goodness of local people. A hundred or more impromptu sessions were held during the few days as the Czech Republic Team sang, danced and played music wherever they went, in a week that began with a visit to the National Schools on Tuesday morning and ended with the National Schools cheering them on their way in North Street last Friday. Sherkin Islanders played host to the Czech Special Olympics Delegation on Wednesday 18th. Cape Clear National Schoolchildren made the trip over to Sherkin to meet the athletes and to entertain them. Their principal Cecilia U i Drisceoil, presented gifts of pottery made on Cape Clear to the head of the Czech Delegation, Dr Martina Stredova. The schoolchildren had raised funds over the winter in order to be able to present a gift to each of the 55 athletes from the Czech Republic. Students from Cape Clear Language School provided musical entertainment. Sherkin Islanders and Heir Islanders also presented gifts to the visitors and helped provide a great afternoon of song and dance and a memorable visit for the Czech Delegation. Thanks were extended to the Islanders Rest who provided an excellent meal for over 100 people, to Vincent O'Driscoll who provided the main ferry and to Danny Murphy of Heir Island for the Ms Josephine. The team visited Skibbereen GAA Pavilion later that evening and joined in friendly games on the pitch. Music, singing and dancing rounded off the day's events with a joint music session between Irish traditional musicians and the Czech musicians scaling any language barriers. On Thursday 19th, the Delegation broke up into small groups to visit shops in Skibbereen and to lunch in various venues throughout the town and area. The children of Castletownshend put on a fine display of Irish dancing at the Two Trees which delighted the members of the Czech delegation. The afternoon was spent at sporting venues in the town prior to the farewell dinner, held in the West Cork Hotel. A reception held following the dinner was attended by several hundred during which presentations were made to the Czech Delegation by Skibbereen Host Town Committee. During the speeches, Skibbereen Host Town Committee were declared to be "Skibbereen Dream Team" for hosting such a large and such a successful event. Dr Martina Stredova, head of the Czech Delegation, said that Skibbereen had provided the best host town programme she had ever been to in the fourteen years she has been involved in the Special Olympics and thanked everyone involved profusely. Members of Skibbereen Host Town Committee travelled to Dublin, with the Czech Delegation, on a train provided by Cork County Council, and transferred them into the care of Dublin volunteers at their accommodation in St Joseph's. The Czech team are sharing their accommodation with the team from Honk Kong who have been in quarantine prior to the Games.

OPENING CEREMONY

Anyone who was privileged enough to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympic Games last Saturday night will forever remember the huge waves of goodwill and cheering that reverberated throughout Croke Park. It was a night to focus and celebrate on the abilities and strengths of all the athletes taking part. They have succeeded in overcoming hurdles unknown to many of us and have proved they are all achievers and winners having made the journey to be selected to represent their countries at the greatest sporting event of 2003.

A constant ebb and flow of athletes, continued throughout the evening, as their exuberance prevented them from remaining seated for the four hours of the opening ceremony, attended by approximately 80,000 spectators and watched by a worldwide audience.

The Czech Republic Team were seated in the stadium at the furthest point from the Canal End where members of Skibbereen Host Town Committee were on the Upper Tier waving the Czech Republic Flags. When the Czech Republic Team caught sight of their flags, they turned as one, standing and cheering up at the Committee. A group of a dozen or so of the Czech Republic Team then left their seats and walked the length of the stadium to wave and cheer their former hosts.

Revered as one of the greatest men of our time, Nelson Mandela, who officially opened the Games said, "Few things in life could have given me greater pleasure and done me more honour than being associated with the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics give telling testimony to the indestructibility of the human spirit and of our capacity to overcome hardships and obstacles. You, the athletes, are the ambassadors of the greatness of humankind. You inspire us to know that all obstacles to human achievement and progress are surmountable. Your achievements remind us of the potential to greatness that resides in every one of us."

Sister of the late President John F Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Muhammad Ali, Roy Keane, Arnold Schwarenegger, Piers Brosnan, U2, the Corrs, Ronan Keating, Samantha Mumba, Nadia Comaneci, Colin Farrell, Jon Bon Jovi, were amongst the large line up of celebrities and stars who attended the opening ceremony which was compered by Patrick Kielty.

One of the most moving performances throughout the evening was 100 Riverdancers who were the longest troupe of dancers to perform on stage simultaneously, and took with their tapping toes and heels, the whole stadium step by step.

Waves of colour from teams of athletes to thousands of flags waved by the spectators, costumes representing the Summer Solstice and fireworks galore made for spectacular visual displays.

But the stars of the evening were the 7,000 athletes, from every corner of the globe, who have come together to celebrate their achievements in sport and who, in doing so, have enabled Ireland to share the feeling.

Text & Photos by Carol Gilbert

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