Taoiseach's address:The Special Olympics was "the largest mass mobilisation of voluntary effort ever witnessed on our island", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said in a speech at the opening of the Games in Croke Park.
He hoped it would motivate people to get involved in other kinds of voluntary work in the future.
Mr Ahern, who received a mixed reception from the crowd, said the opening ceremony was a celebration of achievement: "First and foremost we celebrate the achievement of each individual athlete who has not only overcome a significant personal challenge in participating in their chosen sport but has excelled to the extent that they are here at the 2003 Games proudly representing their countries.
"Watching each of these athletes compete leaves many of us feeling personally humbled by their courage, their spirit and of course their sheer enjoyment in using the skills which they have learned and developed."
The Taoiseach saluted the families and communities which had "invested their time, their patience and, most importantly, their love and care" in supporting the athletes and helping them develop their skills.
"Thirdly, we celebrate the achievement of the organisers of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games here in Ireland. We salute the diligence, the tenacity of all the organisers. We salute the sponsors who so generously supported their efforts.
"In particular, the organisers have achieved the largest mass mobilisation of voluntary effort ever witnessed on our island. We pay tribute to each of the volunteers in the host towns around the country and at the Games for giving their time and skills to help make this event an enormous success.
"I hope that you all, like me, are enriched by the experience, and maybe motivated for further involvement in voluntary activity into the future.
"I know that the week's events of the 2003 Special Olympics will be a tremendous success. Since their foundation in the 1960s, the Special Olympics movement have benefited millions of children and adults around the world." He paid tribute to "the vision and foresight of the founder of the Special Olympics movement, Ms Eunice Kennedy Shriver.