Iraqi youngsters pull out of Special Olympics

The Iraqi Special Olympics team have pulled out of the games due to be held in Ireland this summer.

Six children and their carers had been due to take part in the sporting event - the largest in the world this year – being held in Dublin in June.

The team was to have stayed with families in Larne, Co Antrim, in the run-up to the games, but the borough council received a fax from Iraq last night saying the team would not be travelling because of the war.

Democratic Unionist Party Mayor Bobby McKee said today: “We were looking forward as a council and community to hosting the six children and their carers.

“Unfortunately, because of the situation, it is not going to happen now. We are very disappointed.”

Larne is one of scores of towns and cities on both sides of the border which were chosen to host a single nation’s team for the games.

Last week a road sign welcoming the Iraqi team to the coastal town was vandalised, but Mr McKee insisted the youngsters would have been given a warm welcome.