Irish in Greece to light 'Flame of Hope'

A 12-strong delegation of Irish police officers and Special Olympians left Ireland for Greece on Saturday where they will take part in tomorrow's Special Olympics torch-lighting ceremony.

The group will also participate in an EU-wide torch run in the run-up to the Games, which begin in Dublin later this month.

Five gardaí and five Police Service of Northern Ireland officers left Dublin for Athens with two Special Olympians.

In Athens tomorrow, the Flame of Hope will be lit from the rays of the sun, as is also the tradition for the winter and summer Games.

The Irish delegation will then join a 100-strong party of international law enforcers and athletes who will carry four torches through 17 European cities.

All the torches will be lit from the same flame in Athens.

A torch will arrive in Bangor, Co Down, on June 13th. The international delegation will then split into four teams, taking four torches through most of the 130 towns which will host athletes during the Games.

The event will culminate with the lighting of the Special Olympics flame in Croke Park, Dublin, on June 21st, the eve of the games.

The identity of the athlete who will light this flame has not yet been disclosed.