THE REAL GAMES: Everyone is smiling and helpful. The sun is shining and the Special Olympics miracle has transformed the RDS into a magical oasis.
Life may not be perfect but it doesn't mean you can't be happy. That's the message we're all learning from our tutors - the athletes.
Queen's We Will Rock You rings out from the speakers in the main hall. The large crowd jump to their feet, waving and cheering the athletes striding in to compete in the preliminary stages of the table-tennis tournament. Adjudicators, security staff and volunteers stop what they're doing to join the thunderous applause.
Nine members of the O'Grady family are here from Bantry for the week to support Micheál: "Make sure you get the spelling right - he likes the Irish version of his name," says Tom, his brother, proudly. I ask how they're enjoying themselves. "Brilliant! That fella is giving us the time of our lives!"
In the nearby Special Olympics Town the atmosphere is a little less frenetic. In this bright and attractive arena, athletes get the chance to relax, email friends or try any one of the many activities available.
A group of traditional musicians are entertaining an international group of foot-tapping athletes. And Juan Sanchez (14), a gymnast from Ecuador, is diverting himself at the golf nets before his competition at 4 p.m. "I've never played golf before but it's not that hard," he tells me nonchalantly, with the help of his interpreter.
Meanwhile, in the drop-in medical centre, the Healthy Athlete Programme is in full swing. Co-ordinator Deirdre Foley Woods explains: "We're targeting athletes from all countries, including Ireland, because our research shows people with an intellectual disability receive significantly poorer medical treatment than the general population of their respective countries, across the board.
"Using the expertise of our brilliant team of 860 general and clinical volunteers, the aim is to assess and treat 5,000 athletes overall and we're well on target. Yesterday alone we screened 700 athletes for problems with their sight; hearing; feet; teeth and aerobic fitness."
Dr Mark Wagner, the American director of the programme, isn't surprised by the level of disorders and disease diagnosed. "What is surprising is the consistency - it's not changing. As we've looked at athletes over the years we see a constant lack of eye care, lack of dental care and inadequate nutrition.
"These athletes are just a microcosm but they are a general indicator of the inadequate treatment people with intellectual disability receive and it's important to inform the general public of this neglect in order to rectify it."
The largest world-wide survey on attitudes to intellectual disability, released last Friday, shows that 66 per cent of respondents believe people with an intellectual disability receive the same or better healthcare than others. This was just one of many mistaken beliefs confirmed by the survey.
The study uncovered negative attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities, proving that prejudice and ignorance are largely responsible for the inequality suffered by such people.
The findings were released at the Special Olympics scientific symposium, held in Belfast in the two days preceding the Games. International delegates met to share valuable research, knowledge and discussion on all aspects of intellectual disability.
When I asked Christy Lynch, symposium chairman, for his reaction to the study, he replied: "I'm not really surprised. The key is that people continue to underestimate the abilities of people with an intellectual disability and therefore have low expectations of their potential contribution to the broad community."
The Irish element of the survey, carried out last year and funded by the National Disability Authority, does have some positive results, however. It showed a 92 per cent awareness of the Special Olympics, and three out of four testimonies declared a willingness to volunteer for the Special Olympics - and that's been corroborated by the fantastic volunteer participation at these Games.
Mr Lynch said another survey was planned in order to compare attitudes before and after the Games. "Hopefully, the experience of having the Special Olympics Games in Ireland will prompt a big change in understanding and awareness," he added.