The president of the Special Olympics, Mr Timothy P. Shriver, last night described the Government's decision to ask athletes from SARS-affected areas to stay away from the event as a "low point" in the history of the Games, writes Carl O'Brien
Mr Shriver said Ireland had been chosen as the first country to host the Games outside the United States because of its welcoming reputation, but he was "shocked" at the travel restriction imposed by health authorities.
"This low point in our wonder-filled movement only makes us more determined than ever to pursue relentlessly our single-minded mission: changing one attitude and one life at a time to make the world a kinder, more accepting place for those whom we tend to overlook."
The Department of Health's decision this week means 100 athletes from areas such as Taiwan, Toronto, Hong Kong, Beijing and other parts of China will not be able to travel to the Games.
It said any athletes from areas on the World Health Organisation's official list of infected areas should be asked not to travel to the Games.
It has also ruled out travel quarantine measures proposed by a number of countries because WHO officials were not available to monitor the safety measures.
Mr Shriver, however, said there was "no logical justification" for the travel restriction, which, he said, was "excessively restrictive".
He added that it would be a "tragic irony" if Special Olympics athletes would suffer the indignity of being unable to travel when they were already forced to deal with attitudes of exclusion and rejection.
"It's certainly a sad day for the Special Olympics movement around the world, and I believe it is a sad day for the proud and beautiful country of Ireland," Mr Shriver said.
Officials from Hong Kong are due to meet senior staff from the Department of Health today in a final bid to convince Irish authorities to allow their athletes to travel to the Games.
However, time is rapidly running out and there is little sign of any softening in the stance of the Department of Health. The Hong Kong delegation is proposing isolation measures which would take between 10 and 14 days. However, the Games are due to begin in just over two weeks.
The Hong Kong Special Olympics group yesterday accused the Irish Government of discriminating against its athletes and ignoring proposals to allow them to compete.
The chairman, Mr David Ip, said: "The Irish Government is promoting discrimination against persons with mental handicaps. They do not ban tourists and merchants from travelling to Ireland. Why should the mentally handicapped be rejected?" he asked.