The Italian team was centre-stage in Killarney yesterday as the Olympic torch came to the Kerry town.
It was the same kind of reception afforded to the return of the Kerry All Ireland football team last September, with flag-waving, disco music and lots of hand-clapping in the Glebe car-park.
To add to the football theme, the Italian soccer team was briefly joined by Kerry's football hero, "the Gooch", Mr Colm Cooper, during a training session earlier that morning.
Mr John Leen, chairman of the host committee, said the train journey past Rathmore on the way to Killarney with hundreds on the platform waving Italian flags late on Tuesday night was "like bringing home the Sam Maguire."
The 98-strong Italian delegation are being hosted by 16 of Killarney's top hotels. Yesterday they visited four primary schools: St Oliver's in Ballycasheen, Fossa National School, Loreto and Loughquittane, where the children were shown how to play bocce.
Killarney already has strong links with Italy, having twinned with the Sicilian town of Castiglione di Sicilia in 1986.
It was on then to Kenmare for the Olympic torch, where the themes of football and twinning were again taken up. On hand to greet the athletes was former Kerry footballer Mick O'Connell. Kenmare hosts the Swiss team.
Ms Jean Kennedy Smith, sister of the founder of Special Olympics, Ms Eunice Kennedy Shriver, met the torch run when it passed through Kinsale.
The Special Olympics flame leaves Cork this morning on the seventh day of the torch run.
Route 1 will arrive in Midleton at 9.30 a.m. and will continue to Youghal, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir. It will stop in Kilkenny at 5.23 p.m.
Route 2 will begin today's journey with a stop in Waterford at 11.16 a.m. It will then travel to New Ross, Enniscorthy and Bunclody. The flame will arrive in Carlow at 5.30 p.m.
Route 3 will arrive in Abbeyleix at 10.39 a.m. and will continue to Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington and Tullamore. It will stop in Mullingar at 4.42 p.m.
Route 4 will stop in Dungarvan at 11.06 a.m. and will then travel to Tramore and Wexford. Its final stop will be in Carlow at 5.30 p.m.