Olympic flame departs for Asia

THE Special Olympics flame left Ireland in a final blaze of glory last night as a spectacular closing ceremony in Croke Park marked the end of two frenetic weeks of sport, fun and festivities.

A brilliant light show brought the party to a close as the 75,000 athletes, volunteers and supporters, equipped with florescent glow sticks lit up an arena packed with emotion and unquenchable memories.

After a celebration concert featuring chart toppers Westlife, Blue, Liberty X and Busted, the Special Olympic torch was formally handed over to Japan, hosts of the World Winter Games 2005 and China which will stage the next Summer Games in 2007.

As the torch departed for Asia for the first time, Special Olympic athletes accompanied it on the first leg of its historic journey, escorting it out of the stadium, surrounded by symbolic oriental lanterns.

President Mary McAleese declared the games officially closed: “Each and every athlete takes home the admiration and respect of the people of Ireland.

"Whether you won a medal or not, you did your historic best and you brought out the very best in us."

Mrs McAleese praised the “amazing army” of organisers, volunteers, host towns and families, who had changed forever the future for people with disabilities.

“The words ‘no you can’t’ have been drowned out by a resounding ‘yes, we can’.”

Most of the 6,600 overseas athletes, their 3000 coaches and officials, and 27,000 family members and friends, leave Ireland today in a mass departure from Dublin Airport, but the party continues in host town Portlaoise where the late arriving Taiwanese delegation who were held up in quarantine because of the SARS scare will be staying until Friday.