Slowly, the giant concrete hulk of Croke Park is being transformed into the biggest theatre the country has ever seen. Carl O'Brien reports.
The dressing rooms are now make-up areas, Hill 16 is obscured by a gigantic stage, the pitch is covered in protective sheeting, and exotic performers have replaced burly GAA players.
"It's a spectacular venue, isn't it?" says Rupert Murray, creative director behind Saturday's opening ceremony. "It's a sports stadium, so there are small disadvantages like making way for the games last weekend, but there's no better place around."
The opening ceremony needs a vast arena. There are 1,700 performers, more than 100 dancers, 7,000 athletes and an overall crowd of 85,000 which will be involved at the opening of the largest sporting event in the world this year. The three-hour ceremony, created and produced for television by Tyrone Productions, will be broadcast live on TV and highlights will be relayed to a potential audience of hundreds of millions. Just as the task of organising the Olympics has been taking place for years, preparations for Saturday's ceremony has been taking place quietly for more than 16 months.
Mr Murray, appointed to direct the event, says the production will be aimed at capturing the spirit of the Olympics by involving athletes and host towns around the country.
"It will reflect the feeling in the country of the welcome and celebration for the games, and we're gathering the best of Irish talent to do that. We also want to make the show as inclusive as possible by including the athletes, and interactive by involving the audience where possible," he says.
Athletes, for example, will formally announce special guests such as Muhammad Ali, the President, Mrs Mary McAleese, Nelson Mandela, and take part in the hosting of the Special Olympics flag, the swearing of the Olympics oath and the lighting of the flame of hope.
The master of ceremonies, Patrick Kielty, will be joined by stars from the world of sport and show business including U2, the Corrs, Samantha Mumba and Ronan Keating.
The organisers hope the crowd won't be just passive spectators. An hour before the ceremony the 65,000 spectators will prepare a rendition of the Athlete's Song, an original piece of music by the composer, Shaun Davey.
The music, which will be performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, a choir of 500 people and traditional musicians, will be one of the most moving parts of the ceremony, says Tony Ó Dálaigh, who is helping to pull this element of the show together. "It's the biggest thing anybody's been involved in. I don't think anybody will be unmoved by it. It's such a simple, rousing tune," he says.
The build-up to the opening ceremony has also been marked by an outpouring of goodwill from everyone involved.
"People ask us how do you get the celebrities here," says Mr Murray. "In reality, we just call them up and, because it's the Special Olympics, people are willing to do it."
"It's right across the board. From someone in a village who has volunteered to take an athletes for a few days, to Mohammed Ali, who has crossed the Atlantic to be here.
It's sure to be a nerve-jangling experience for everyone involved as the late involvement of athletes and dignitaries means the production crew won't be able to stage a full dress rehearsal before the live broadcast.
"Whenever you throw a party you're a bit nervous. We have a great team, everything is being put in place, we have experienced people, and we've planned it to the best of our abilities," Mr Murray says.
"There are difficulties, of course. We're dealing with 160 countries and languages which are difficult to find interpreters for. There's no rehearsal time, so we've taken big broadswipes at it. We'll have dress rehearsals without some of the elements. As a result, Saturday evening will be the first time it will run continuously."