The Special Olympic Ireland Games begin this morning after a spectacular opening ceremony in Belfast's Odyssey complex last night.
More than 2,000 athletes from all over Ireland, accompanied by 500 coaches and 4,000 friends and relatives, packed the docklands venue leaving little room for spectators. Those who were able to get in witnessed an emotional ceremony full of Olympic pageantry to herald the games, which are being held outside Dublin for the first time.
Athletes from five teams - the four provinces and a fifth from the greater Dublin area - entered the arena to an enthusiastic reception.
The Special Olympic flame of hope was then borne into the complex by members of the Garda and the PSNI. The torch has been carried through each of the 32 counties by members of the two police services with support from officers from other forces across Europe.
The flame was then lit in the presence of Denis O'Brien, chairman of the council of patrons.
The Olympic oath, "Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt," was then read aloud to huge roars of approval, and the Olympic flag was raised.
There was live music from Brian Kennedy, who sang You Raise Me Up; Liberty X who performed Just A Little Bit and X; from Mundy and from the barefoot girl trio Triniti. They were supported by a 400-member choir, community groups from Belfast and Inishowen in Donegal and groups called Soul Glow and the Beat Initiative. Hundreds more performers, including dancers and acrobats, added to the festive atmosphere.
Fergus Finlay, head of Special Olympics Ireland and the father of an Olympic competitor, told the competitors to reach for the sky. "You're going to be brave," he told them, "you're going to have fun. You're going to make friends. You're going to win. I hope many of you go home at the end of the week and look back and say 'Belfast was great'."