Paralympians will arrive at Dublin Airport at noon to official welcome

Ireland's Paralympians will return to Dublin Airport this afternoon from the games in Sydney .

The 39-strong team will be accompanied by 26 coaches and physiotherapists on flight BD 125 due from London at 12.10 p.m. They are expected in the main arrivals hall at about 12.30 p.m.

Among those welcoming the team will be the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Maurice Ahern, the secretary general of the Paralympic Council of Ireland, Ms Anne Ebbs, and the chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, Mr John Treacy.

Mr Treacy said he was "delighted to welcome home" the team. Asked whether he thought it was important to support the team in light of the recent controversy, he said he would prefer not to "dwell on that at all".

"I feel the focus now should be on what these athletes have achieved. They are real champions," he said.

Mr Ahern said as a sportsman he would be going to the airport with two hats on.

"I will be there as president of the Clonliffe Harriers to welcome Patrice Dockery, our first wheelchair member. And I will be going as Lord Mayor to welcome them all back. I am always delighted to welcome back people who have worked so hard and achieved so much for all of us."

There will be nine medals coming home in the athletes' luggage. Ms Mairead Berry won three - a gold for the 100m freestyle swimming, and two silvers for the 50m backstroke swimming and the 50m freestyle.

Mr Johnny Cronin and Ms Margaret Grant won gold in boccia, Mr Gay Shelley won also in boccia, Mr Tom Leahy won gold in discus, Mr David Malone won in the 100m backstroke swimming and Ms Catherine Walshe won a silver medal in the pentathlon.

Ireland won 10 medals at the Atlanta Paralympics in 1996 but just one gold.

The Paralympics is the second largest sporting event in the world with over 4,000 athletes from 125 countries competing in 18 disciplines.