SARS group maintains Games travel ban

THE Health Minister’s Expert Group on SARS has refused to bow to intense pressure to reverse its controversial decision to request that athletes from SARS-infected countries should not travel to the Special Olympics next month.

But it has received, and has promised to consider, submissions made by Special Olympics groups here and abroad, as well as an appeal from the Chinese government ahead of the Games.

Just two weeks ago, the same group told the Health Minister that the most prudent course of action would be not to invite athletes from such countries to the Games. Last night’s decision means that athletes from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Toronto won’t be travelling, unless significant progress is made to rid their areas of SARS over the coming week.

It also means that fears that Canada would be added to the list have been unfounded. Toronto is, for the time being at least, being treated as a region. The spokeswoman for the Special Olympic welcoming group in Canada’s host town of Enniscorthy, Mary Whitford Carroll, said she was delighted that athletes from Canada would be coming to the town.

“We’re delighted the department decision stands. We’re hugely excited about receiving the 90-strong delegation from Canada,” she said. The Expert Group has promised to consider submissions received from the Irish Special Olympics Committee, the Special Olympics International Committee and from the Chinese government.

“The Expert Group considered these proposals and agreed they would be considered further in consultation with the WHO,” a department spokeswoman said.

She added it is not yet clear when the group would next meet. Each member will have to check their diary, she said. Irish Special Olympics Committee spokesman Julian Davis said they were glad of an opportunity to make a submission to the group.

“Clearly we didn’t like the group’s decision in the first place. But we would be hopeful that things might change in the coming days.

“We remain hopeful that all of the athletes will be able to travel here. SARS is a primary concern but we don’t like to see athletes treated different to other travellers either. We want to see athletes from every country here,” he said.

The World Health Organisation was critical of the move by authorities here a fortnight ago to recommend that athletes from SARS-infected countries should not travel.

But the Expert Group did not trust some countries to comply with voluntary quarantine regulations. They also feared that if any athlete who did travel developed respiratory difficulties, they would have to be treated as a suspect SARS case and that would put huge pressure on our health service.

Some had hoped the decision by public health doctors to enter formal talks at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow aimed at resolving their strike might sway the minds of the Expert Group.

It was hoped that an end to the dispute might also assist a change in decision. But there has been a greater concern in the Expert Group about Ireland’s capacity to handle any outbreak during the Games.