North arrivals: A large number of the teams for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be staying in host towns and cities in Northern Ireland, with some arriving over the weekend.
Some 1,300 members of Team USA, the largest, will stay in Belfast and are due to arrive on Monday.
One of the smallest teams, but perhaps most significant, will stay in Larne, Co Antrim, one of about 20 hosting towns in the North. Iraq will be sending a 12- member delegation including eight athletes despite the earlier on-off uncertainty caused by the coalition invasion.
They are also due to arrive on Monday but have encountered problems with travel arrangements.
"Eight brave Iraqi athletes will compete in athletics and table tennis, demonstrating courage and sending a message to the whole world through the Games that Iraq is undergoing a major change in its perception and acceptance of the population with mental retardation," according to Ayman Wahab, managing director Special Olympics for the Middle East and North Africa.
The team includes a 13-year- old 100-metre sprinter. The others will take part in track events, shot putt and table tennis.