The Special Olympics Ireland torch arrived at Stormont's Parliament Buildings last night following its tour of Ireland before arriving for the games in Belfast.
The "Flame of Hope" torch was relayed from Templemore, Co Tipperary, by a team of Garda and PSNI recruits accompanied by six Special Olympics athletes and representatives from police services across Europe. Two flames have been carried throughout all 32 counties and converged on Stormont last night.
One torch was carried to Rathlin Island off the north coast of Co Antrim.
The opening ceremony of the games will be staged at Belfast's Odyssey centre this evening and competition continues until Sunday. It is the biggest sporting event in Ireland this year and the first time the games have been hosted outside Dublin.
The games will offer those with a learning difficulty from across Ireland both a warm welcome and an opportunity to demonstrate the city's sporting venues, organisers say.
A total of 2,000 competitors are ready to take part in four days of sport, accompanied by 500 coaches, 5,500 volunteer helpers and around 4,000 families, friends and guests.
The £1.7 million (€2.5 million) event offers participants an opportunity for competition, as well as what organisers call "an opportunity for personal distinction, achievement and pride".