A number of high profile special guests have arrived in Dublin this afternoon, in advance of tomorrow's Croke Park opening ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Former South African president Mr Nelson Mandela will top the bill at the event, which will attract 85,000 people. The President, Mrs McAleese, the Corrs, U2, film-star Arnold Schwarzenegger and boxing legend Muhammed Ali will also appear on-stage, while Northern Irish comedian Mr Patrick Kielty will compere.
The final rehearsals for the event are in full swing this afternoon in Croke Park, as athletes make their way from their various host towns nationwide to their bases in the Dublin area for the Games.
Tomorrow's events will be carried live on TV here, as well as in a number of countries worldwide, including the United States, Britain and India, and in a number of European countries.
Details of the opening ceremony were officially released this afternoon. Proceedings will begin with a parade of athletes, and this will be followed by addresses from the President, Mrs McAleese, and the Chairman of the Games' Organising Committee, Mr Denis O'Brien.
This is turn will be followed by a taking of the Special Olympics oath, along with the staging of a Special Olympics' Ball, including a dance party and a performance by Riverdance.
The culmination of the ceremony will witness speeches by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the founder of the Games, Ms Eunice Kennedy Shriver, U2 and finally, Mr Mandela, before Irish athlete David McAuley (16), from Creggan in Offaly, lights the Olympic flame.
Gardai have advised that there will be extensive disruption to traffic in the city, and particularly in the immediate vicinity of Croke Park, leading up, during and after the ceremony.
Proceedings at Croke Park will officially get under way at 6.30 p.m. and finish at 10.30 p.m.
A huge array of celebrities, and athletes, has been assembled to take part in the ceremony. The list also includes Hollywood stars Colin Farrell, Johnny Knoxville, Heather Locklear and Vanessa Williams, sports stars Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Eddie Irvine, DJ Carey, Ronnie Delaney, and such notables as former US ambassador to Ireland, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith and Ms Maria Shriver, and royal figures Princess Astrid Lorenz of Belgium, HRH Prince Ra'ad Zeid of Jordan, HRH Grand Duchess Maria-Theresa of Luxembourg.
A database of all the Special Olympics athletes is available at www.2003specialolympics.com.
The Games' conclude on Sunday June 29th with a closing ceremony at Croke Park. 30,000 volunteers will be mobilised over the course of the Games to assist the 7,000 athletes taking part. The Games themselves are expected to attract 500,000 spectators.