Arrivals/Host-town preparations: Chris Dooley outlines the frantic work in two towns, in Co Wexford and Co Carlow, as they prepared for the arrival of Special Olympics teams.
News that they would be hosting the Burkina Faso team at the Special Olympics World Games had the people of Bunclody, Co Wexford, checking their atlases.
"When we heard the delegation we were getting, some of us didn't know where Burkina Faso was," admits the chairman of Bunclody's host town committee, Mr Cecil Ridall.
So they did "a little bit of detective work" and came across a student from Burkina Faso at the Institute of Development Studies in Kimmage Manor, Dublin, run by the Holy Ghost Fathers.
The student, Mr Issaka Traorere, was delighted to help out. Dressed in his national costume, he visited the town and spoke to a number of groups including children at the three local primary schools.
"He was a big hit," says Mr James Roberts, principal of one of the schools and secretary of the Bunclody host town committee. "He taught the children to count in one of Burkina's many languages, and they taught him to count in Irish."
He also provided the committee with all the practical information they needed, right down to the dietary requirements of his countrymen and women.
An Irish development worker who lived in Burkina Faso for five years, Mr Paul O'Brien, also provided valuable background information.
Now, there is no-one in Bunclody who does not know something about this landlocked west African country, which is officially ranked, says Mr Riddall, as the third poorest in the world.
The Bunclody committee, however, remains unsure about the size of the Burkina travelling party, which is expected to be between seven and 25.
Regardless of how many travel, Bunclody is determined to make next week an unforgettable one for their guests.
The town is already decked out in bunting and numerous premises are flying the Burkina Faso national flag, which coincidentally bears the green, red and yellow colours of the neighbouring county, Carlow.
From the moment of their arrival today, the Burkina delegation will be invited to take part in an action-packed programme of events. Highlights include a trip to Courtown Harbour today, which will probably be the first time members of the visiting party will have seen the sea.
Tuesday's activities include bowling in Gorey and dinner in Carlow, while on Wednesday Wexford County Council hosts an evening of entertainment, beginning at 4.30 p.m. at Johnstown Castle.
A street entertainment festival is one of the events lined up for Thursday, when the Olympic torch will pass through Bunclody.
The town has also taken the unusual step of commissioning a sculpture, by local artist Dermot Redmond, to mark the event. The six-figure piece, representing all of the continents, has been given a permanent site in the town centre.
In nearby Tullow, Co Carlow, preparations are equally well advanced to greet the 24-strong delegation from Bolivia.
"We've been preparing for more than a year-and-a-half, but it's been hammer-and-tongs for the past six months," says Mr Michael Cleary, chairman of the Tullow host town committee.
For eight weeks, committee members attended Spanish lessons at the local community school, provided by a Bolivian man and his Irish wife who live in Athy.
Mr Cleary admits the venture was not entirely successful on his own part, but five or six committee members have learned enough to communicate with their guests at a basic level.
The Bolivian party arrives in Dublin tomorrow after a 30-hour journey via Frankfurt in Germany, so the committee has wisely designated Monday a day for relaxation.
Visits to Rosslare Harbour, Altamont Gardens and the Ballykeenan Pet Farm, as well as a reception hosted by Carlow County Council, are all included on the packed agenda for the remainder of the week.
"It should be a great week for them but it will be a great week for ourselves too," says Mr Cleary. "Everybody in the town has got involved and we are really looking forward to it."
