2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

From 21st - 29th June 2003 the whole island of Ireland played host to the Special Olympics World Summer Games, the largest sports and multicultural event in the world. It was the first time the Games were held outside the United States and they provided us with the largest international sporting event in our island's history.

There were some 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches/delegates and 28,000 families and friends at the Games. It is estimated that over 40,000 international visitors came to Ireland specifically for the Games and that the event brought in the order of €35 million into the Irish economy as well as placing Ireland in the centre of the world's gaze for ten memorable days in June.

http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/tourism/ag...