Sporting smiles: Paralympians get hero’s welcome

If smiling ever becomes an Olympic (or indeed Paralympic) sport, future participants should know the world record has already been set — at 9.09pm yesterday, to be exact.

At that moment, a piper led the first members of Ireland’s Paralympics team through the arrivals gate and into the waiting arms of family, friends and fans, all there to hail the record-breaking achievements of Ireland’s most successful sports team ever. The throng spilled forward, children leading the way in a welcome fit for the return of sporting heroes.