Clonmel ‘relieved’ as Hong Kong quits town

HONG KONG yesterday confirmed its participation in the Special Olympics but dramatically pulled out of the Irish host town programme.

Tue, 13 May, 2003 - 01:00

Eddie Cassidy and Neans McSweeney

The delegation from the SARS-infected country will not visit Clonmel where the borough council had controversially decided not to host Hong Kong due to the potential health scare.

Clonmel Mayor Niall Dennehy said last night the Hong Kong decision would be welcomed with a sense of relief in the town.

In order to comply with a direction from the Games Organising Committee, the Hong Kong delegation will travel directly to Dublin after a ten-day isolation period in their homeland.

The committee’s chief executive Mary Davis expressed regret at Hong Kong’s decision not to participate in the Host Town programme but said the decision was understandable. However, David Yip, the chairman of the Hong Kong delegation, said the decision not to take part in the host town programme was taken reluctantly. He said the additional 10 days in isolation, along with the planned 14 days of host town activities and competition, increased the pressure on the athletes and coaches. “It was too long a time for our athletes and coaches to be away from home and work,” he said.

Mr Yip said withdrawing from the host town programme ensured participation in the world games. “The athletes deserve that, they have been training for many years now and we did not want to deprive them of the opportunity of competing,” he said. However, he thanked the Clonmel Host Town Committee for its hard work and preparations over the past year. “I hope they understand why we have made this decision and we look forward to meeting with them at the Games in Dublin,” he added.

Clonmel mayor Niall Dennehy said last night: “It is with a sense of relief that we hear that the delegation from Hong Kong has decided not to participate in the host town programme.”

He added, “as I have said previously, Clonmel is most sympathetic to the unfortunate situation that the people of Hong Kong find themselves in because of the deadly SARS virus. We wish them well and hope that everybody who comes to the Games enjoy themselves.”