1,500 athletes full of excitement as Special Olympic Games begin

The Queen didn’t do a parachute jump, but Limerick yesterday exuded a spectacular summer glow for the opening of the Special Olympic Ireland Games.

As 1,500 athletes from 32 counties gathered to parade through the city, Chloe O’Mahony from Bandon, Co Cork, summed it up.

The 17-year-old relay and 100m runner said: “This is the most exiting day of my life. The bus trip in from the university with the Garda motor bikes escorting us was brilliant. I am here to enjoy myself and to compete.”