Law enforcement officers from across Europe, including members of An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), will carry the Olympic torch from Athens to Croke Park in time for the opening ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games on June 21st.
The Special Olympics "flame of hope" will be lit on June 4th in the traditional way by rays of the sun at Olympia, a ceremony that will herald that start of a 15,000 km journey to 17 cities in 15 countries across Europe.
Nine days later, the torch will arrive in Bangor, Co Down, to be joined by 1,500 gardaí and officers of the PSNI. It will be carried by the Final Leg Running Team, which includes police and Special Olympics athletes, through more than 130 towns and villages taking part in the host town programme of the games.
Details of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg were revealed at receptions in Dublin and Belfast yesterday, events attended by senior representatives of both police forces, as well as the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the chairman of the 2003 Special Olympics organising committee, Mr Denis O'Brien, and several athletes.
"One of the great things about the torch run is that it is proof, if proof were needed, that these games are for the island of Ireland - not just Dublin and not just the Republic but for everyone, north and south," said Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne.
Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI Mr Paul Leighton added that it was "a celebration of all that is worthwhile in cross-Border co-operation".
Speaking at the Dublin launch in the Mansion House, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the hard work of the 30,000 volunteers around Ireland and the various corporate and other non-governmental organisations that had pledged their support.
"These games have captured the imagination of the Irish people like no other voluntary event in our history. This can be seen in the thousands of volunteers taking part, towns throughout the country acting as hosts for the event, as well as the educational programmes raising awareness of the event in every school on the island," he said.
Two Special Olympics athletes, Michael Quinn from Armagh and Robert Gordon from Co Wicklow, who were selected to take part in the Torch Run Final Leg, then ran into the building carrying the torch, escorted by gardaí and police officers from the PSNI. "It is a great honour for me to run for my country and I am looking forward to it enormously," said Michael.
The torch runners will carry the "flame of hope" along three routes taking in cities such as Istanbul, Warsaw, Riga, Prague, Madrid, Milan and Paris.
Speaking via a video-link from Brussels, the President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, said that he hoped the run would raise the profile of the games across the EU. The torch was designed by Mr Noel Finnerty of Newbridge Silverware.