One of the most gifted athletes competing at Kill International Equestrian Centre this week was Russian rider Dmitry Badanin, who still lives in an orphanage.
From Russia, with love. . .
In this, his third Special Olympics, he won another two gold medals to add to the pair he won in 1995 and the double gold in 1999. Competing is fun, winning even better - but what he really wants is to be reunited with the host family from New Haven, Connecticut, with whom he stayed in 1995.
"They wrote to me," he says. "They wanted to adopt me. But the letter was only read out to me. I have no address, but I remember everything. I could draw their house."
Such is the closeness of the World Games community, perhaps the
Team USA North East delegation could re-establish this contact.
The play's the thing
It was not the end of week one of Wimbledon he envisaged, but tennis player Lleyton Hewitt (left) lit up the lives of many Special Olympics athletes and Irish fans with his surprise visit to Riverview on Saturday. The Aussie wasn't showing any obvious disappointment after being dumped in the first round. Far from it. The world number one had a knock-about with some of the athletes, sat on court for an impromptu group interview among them, and imparted much advice and coaching tips - not forgetting the customary trick shots required of any good tennis pro. He even had time for a few rallies with Tim Shriver, head of Special Olympics International, who, despite being dressed in civvies, took to the court with aplomb.
Up, up and away - off-course!
British balloonist David Hempleman-Adams landed the Bank of Ireland Atlantic Challenger 2003 in a field in Massachusetts yesterday morning - 30 hours and 53 minutes after taking off from Pittsburgh ihis attempt to cross the Atlantic solo in an AM-08 Rozière balloon with an open wicker basket. He had planned to arrive in Ireland to coincide with the Special Olympics opening ceremony, but his departure was repeatedly delayed due to bad weather.
Weather conditions changed dramatically again in recent days, forcing the landing. The flight director, David Owen, determined that the wind track that Hempleman-Adams was on would have taken him more than eight days to cross the Atlantic. He only had enough fuel for a maximum of seven. The distance record for this class of balloon is currently six days.
Hempleman-Adams managed to land the balloon safely in a field in Hardwick, 70 kilometres due west of Boston and eight kilometres from where he had to land last year. The balloon and equipment are both safe and Hempleman-Adams ate breakfast with the farmer who owns the land.
"Due to decreasing wind speeds, what had been projected as a maximum of seven days' flight would have become a 10- or even 11-day flight. This would have raised the probability of David Hempleman-Adams being forced to ditch in the Atlantic," says Owen.
"The world endurance record for this category of balloon is currently six days. We had planned to aim for a maximum of seven days, which was in line with meteorological reports at the time of launch.
"It would have been unwise to have allowed David to commence his Atlantic crossing when the duration of the flight could have exceeded the endurance capability of the balloon. Obviously David is very disappointed, but true to the ethos of the Special Olympics World Games, he is determined to persevere and try again."
Irish sun cheers Iraqis
The eight athletes of the Iraqi Special Olympics team were "very happy" because the sun was shining most of the time they were here, their translator, Khalid Ibrahim, said yesterday.
"They have been feeling very happy and peaceful here. This was the first team to come out of Iraq since after the war," he said, adding there would have been a larger contingent had the communications system in their home not been destroyed during the recent war.
"The athletes are all from Baghdad. They are all taking part in the running and we won three golden medals and four bronze. In normal times we would have had a basketball team and a volleyball team, but that was not possible."
"That they are here at all of course is an achievement and the team is especially grateful to Denis O'Brien (above) for sending his jet to bring them here for the Games.
"That was really great, and a great journey for the athletes. The jet flew to Istanbul and stopped there for a few hours and then flew to Ireland."
Of the situation at home, he said, the athletes are "very happy because there is no Saddam. We are happy for that.
"But what they want now is a decent life. There is no government there. We don't need to be occupied any more. We have wonderful people and resources and we can establish our own government."
The team go home this morning, though not on Mr O'Brien's jet.
"Unfortunately no," said Mr Ibrahim. "The team flies to Jordan and then go to Iraq in a car."
Compiled by Kitty Holland, Kevin O'Sullivan and Eileen Battersby
My sport: Kai Feng (China: table-tennis)
I really like table-tennis. I started playing it from a young age - I was 12 when I began, I'm 30 now. I think it's really fun to play. I enjoy making new friends from competing.
From 13 years of age, I played in the Special Olympics.
About one year ago, I found out I would be representing China at these Special Olympic Games. I was really happy and excited when I found out.
I didn't know much about Ireland before I came here. The Irish are really nice and I've made lots of friends. Bray was our host town. We are not the original team designated to come. We're the back-up team and we were only told 10 days in advance that we were to come here. So I only had 10 days to train for the Special Olympics.
I was a bit afraid and nervous. But we're all friends on the team - we get on well.
Normally I don't practice that much, only if there's a competition coming up, when I will put in a few extra hours. My technique is okay. I train in the gym, too, and I run.
We don't play table-tennis at home but it's popular in Shanghai. They really like to play it. I already won three gold medals this week in the singles, the mixed doubles and the doubles. I prefer doubles. I think I'm stronger playing doubles because we co-operate better. All my competitors were very interesting. Romania and Russia are very good. I beat Ireland, England and Holland in the singles finals.
My family are very proud of me. We were on the phone during the week - I told them I won the gold and they were really delighted. We go back to China on July 1st. I'm thinking of my son - I want to return to see him and my family. I will still practise table-tennis when I go home. I really enjoy it.
I thought the opening ceremony was really good. It was even better than the ones in America! I would like to stay for a few more days and play and then go back to China. These Olympics are really great. In 2007, at the Shanghai Special Olympic Games, we will welcome everyone from the whole world.
I will be there to welcome the Irish!
In conversation with Sorcha Crowley