Game on

MARY DAVIS is on her third phone of the day, a day which began at 7am and is now 15, verging on a less than sweet 16 hours old. The borrowed mobile is staple-gunned to the side of her head, its battery power waning more than Davis herself.

A while ago, the chief executive of Special Olympics 2003 had endured a tough and tetchy televised scrap with Brian Farrell on 'Prime Time' with the veteran broadcaster haranguing her about her committee's response to SARS. She remained calm and coherent, didn't take the bait, answered her questions as best she could and to those watching in the studio, won the bout on points. The calls, and there are many, are all of the same opinion.

She is smiling, a brandy glass rests in one hand, she begins to relax. And then the phone begins to ring again.