Of all the young celebrities and sports stars at the Special Olympics opening ceremony on Saturday, it was two older men who stole the show.
Brought on stage by U2's Bono to the strains of Pride, 84-year-old Nelson Mandela received a standing ovation from the 85,000 spectators and athletes in the stadium.
"You inspire us to know that all obstacles to human achievement and progress are surmountable," Dr Mandela told the athletes. "Your achievement reminds us of the potential for greatness that resides in every one of us. May the world learn from your example."
Slowed down by Parkinson's Disease, Muhammad Ali (61) also received a rapturous welcome as he entered Croke Park with the US athletes, just 30 years after the legendary boxer beat Al "Blue" Lewis in the stadium.
In all, some 43 VIPs and celebrities, ranging from Roy Keane to Jon Bon Jovi and Arnold Schwarzenegger to D.J. Carey, accompanied the 7,000 athletes into the stadium. Visiting dignitaries included: Prince Ra'ad Zeid of Jordan, the Grand Duchess Maria-Therese of Luxembourg, Princess Astrid Lorenz of Belgium and the First Lady of Poland, Ms Jolanta Kwasniewska.
Irish movie stars Colin Farrell and Pierce Brosnan also appeared on stage.
However, at a reception after the ceremony by the founder of the Special Olympics, Ms Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the name Nelson Mandela was on almost everyone's lips.
"When he came on stage with U2 that was a fantastic moment," said former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, Packie Bonner. Mary Davis, the CEO of the games, said: "We have a great week ahead of us."
The Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, said it was fitting that Dr Mandela should play a key role in the ceremony given the barriers that Special Olympics athletes face. "He himself is a flame of hope and has been for almost 50 years now. It was entirely appropriate he should come to Ireland in the winter of his life to open an event such as this, in a country which has seen great conflict and is coming to terms with its own difficulties."
Former president of the GAA, and a director of the organising committee, Mr Joe McDonagh, said it was an "extremely proud" moment to see the event being held in Croke Park. "We haven't seen anything like this, even on an All-Ireland final day."
The Republic's football manager, Mr Brian Kerr, said that while it was a "wonderful" event, he hoped interest in special needs would extend beyond the hosting of the Olympics.
The leader of the SDLP, Mr Mark Durkan, one of many Northern politicians at the ceremony, said the volunteer work of the Garda and the PSNI in carrying the flame of hope around the country was a powerful example of cross-community partnership.
