Games reaction: The Irish people will not allow the flame of hope created by the Special Olympics to be extinguished, the organisers of the Games said yesterday as participants started to travel home.
Organisers said the Games had created an awareness in this country that had to be "harnessed".
They said it had to be used to emphasise further that "those who deserve equality should have equality."
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's, Morning Ireland programme yesterday, Ms Mary Davis, chief executive officer of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, said a lot of hope had been demonstrated over the course of the Games.
Special Olympics athletes, she said, "have shown the world just how capable they are".
"Lives have been changed forever," she added.
She added the Games had put the issue of disability on the political agenda and it was a step forward in dealing with the issue.
Mr Pat Costello, national director with Special Olympics Ireland, said that the Games had been a celebration of ability and an opportunity for people to enjoy themselves.
Mr Costello said that once the Flame of Hope arrived in Bangor, the spirit of Ireland lit up and that spirit lived on.
He added that the spirit of community was rekindled "one hundred-fold over the last 18 months" and "Ireland will not go back".
The Irish Sports Council said the spirit of the Games was evident all week and the event was an outstanding success.
Mr John Treacy, chief executive of the council said the games demonstrated the potential of sport to act as a positive force in our communities.
Organisers said the issue of disability would not fade from the spotlight in the coming weeks, regardless of some scepticism.
They said campaigns had been unveiled to ensure that the energy and awareness generated by the Games would now be turned to what they called "the plight of Irish people with disabilities".
Echoing the Fianna Fáil general election campaign slogan "A lot done. More to do", the Disability Federation of Ireland said: "A lot done by the 30,000 volunteers and all involved in the host town programme, but a lot more to be done to secure the legacy of the Games."
The organisation said many thousands of volunteers and carers shared the feeling all year round that the Government had failed to improve the conditions of people living with disabilities in Ireland.
Ms Angela Kerins, chairwoman of the national co-ordinating committee of the European Year of People with Disability said the Games had "done something for Irish society".
Ms Kerins said the Games had created an awareness in many towns around Ireland and the challenge now was to mobilise volunteers to get involved in the current campaign.
The co-ordinating committee of the European Year of People with Disabilities is launching a "Make A Difference" campaign in September.
It is basing the campaign on three issues: disability awareness, rights and responsibilities, and employment.
"We need everybody here," said Ms Kerins.
"Our challenge now is to harness the great feeling in the community."