Various - A Feeling Shared: The Opening Ceremony Of The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games flac album

The Special Olympics World Games are an international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities, organized by the IOC-recognised Special Olympics organisation. Although local Special Olympics events and competitions are held around the world every day, the World Games are flagship events. The goal is to showcase the skills and accomplishments of people with intellectual disabilities on a global stage.

The 2003 World Games were the first to be held outside of the United States. Approximately 7000 athletes from 150 countries competed in the games in 18 official disciplines, and three exhibition sports. The participants from Kosovo were the region's first team at an international sporting event. A 12-member team from Iraq received special permission to attend the games, despite ongoing war in their home nation. This was the largest sporting event held in 2003. The ceremony was officially opened by President of Ireland Mary McAleese and attended by Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Bertie Ahern. Look at other dictionaries: Special Olympics World Games - The Special Olympics World Games are an international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities, organized by Special Olympics.

The Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games on June 21st in Croke Park, Dublin, marked the beginning of the largest sporting event in the world in 2003.

21 June 2003 (2003-06-21). 29 June 2003 (2003-06-29). Officially opened by. Nelson Mandela. Croke Park served as the central stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, even though no competitions took place there. Belfast, Northern Ireland was the venue for roller skating events (at the Kings Hall), as well as the Special Olympics Scientific Symposium (held from 19–20 June).

The crowd at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies in Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland as Team USA enters the stadium. The band U2 were a major feature, and Nelson Mandela officially opened the games. Other performances included The Corrs and the largest Riverdance troupe ever assembled on one stage. Both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics, during the construction of the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park hosted games played by the Ireland national rugby union team and the Republic of Ireland national football team. The area now known as Croke Park was owned in the 1880s by Maurice Butterly and known as the City and Suburban Racecourse, from 1890 it was used by the Bohemian Football Club.

At World Games, the entire Special Olympics Movement comes together to see our athletes in action and celebrate their victories over huge odds. Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver had this to say about the power of the World Games: "Special Olympics is one 'issue' any local or national government can and will support once they have the unique experience of hosting a World Games and learning more about these athletes. I say this emphatically because it has happened after every World Games in our history. The Special Olympics goal is to continue that same feeling long after the competitions are over. We see a world where there is no 'us' or 'them. Instead, peoples of all abilities are treated with dignity and respect and all are welcomed with acceptance and understanding.

Summer Olympic Games. Winter Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony attracts hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide, as well as tens of thousands of delighted and enthralled spectators inside the Olympic stadium. It is also – first and foremost – a majestic show, through which each host nation exhibits its culture, history, achievements and, often, its sense of humour. The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games was held in Vancouver’s impressive BC Place Stadium. It began in stunning fashion with Canadian snowboarder Johnny Lyall, who was seen shooting down a mountain slope on a giant screen, before appearing in the flesh to leap through giant Olympic rings.