Athletes 'disappointed' by SARS games ban

Athletes training for the Special Olympics from countries hit by the SARS virus were coming to terms today with the news that they are no longer welcome in Ireland.

The Government revealed it was asking teams from China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong and Philippines not to travel to the competition in June. They were among 7,000 athletes with learning disabilities from around the world who were to take part in the games.

A spokesman for the Philippines delegation said: “I am disappointed and I find it quite unfortunate.”

He said he only heard the news when staff at a radio station contacted him this morning.

He told radio: “This morning the news started to come out in local cable channels that the Philippines indeed was one of the countries being asked not to come to Dublin.”

Athletes had been preparing for the World Games for more than a year and put lots of time and money into the preparations, he said.

“Just to get to Dublin would cost us about €1,000 (€866). That is a big amount for ordinary families in this country.”

Now he said he was faced with the task of breaking the news to the athletes and their families.

“That is going to be a very, very big problem for me because we have promised them they will be competing against the best of their own peers.

“They are really so honoured and they are really looking forward to travelling abroad and to visit a new country.”

The move was confirmed last night after Health Minister Michéal Martin met senior health officials.

The World Health Organisation criticised the decision, saying it was not consistent with the latest guidelines for attending large events.

Mary Davies, chief executive of Ireland’s Special Olympics committee, said she was surprised and disappointed by the news.

She said an expert had been sent over from the World Health Organisation to assess the risk.

“What he stated was the issue is reducing and managing the potential risk and managing those risks if they should occur,” she said.

“He doesn’t think we should be looking at banning anybody from moving around the world under these kind of circumstances.”

She added: “What is needed here is guides to provide a consistent national approach to SARS prevention without unnecessarily stigmatising the Special Olympics group or indeed any other group.”

Athletes are to stay at a number of host towns on both sides of the Irish border during the games.

One town, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has already acted unilaterally by asking competitors and their followers from Hong Kong to stay away.

Bray and Arklow, in Co Wicklow, and Portlaoise, Co Laois were due to have host three of the countries affected by the development.

Mr Martin said he had acted on the unanimous recommendation of a group of experts he appointed to monitor the SARS position relating to Ireland.

He said the order was regretted, but it would have been wrong to ignore the advice he had received.

Ireland’s Special Olympics committee said they were “shocked and disappointed” by the Government decision while Labour's health spokesperson Breeda Moynihan Cronin called it an act of “blatant political opportunism and discrimination“.

She added: “No other citizen from any of the affected countries is being asked not to travel to Ireland.

“Business people, visitors, musicians, artists and anyone else who want to come to Ireland from those countries are all welcome.

“But people with learning disabilities apparently are not. This is a shameful decision.”