The Government has dismissed accusations of discrimination over its decision to prevent athletes from five countries affected by the SARS virus to participate in the Special Olympics.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he had decided, under medical advice, to ask 260 athletes and assistants from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines not to travel to the Games over fears of the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
SARS has killed 602 of 7,705 people infected so far worldwide.
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But the Irish Special Olympics organising committee accused the Government of discriminating against the athletes, while People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI) insisted there should be no discrimination against athletes "simply because they have a disability".
The International Special Olympics headquarters in Washington said they were "troubled" by the "unfortunate implication that any ban such as this invites".
PWDI spokesman Mr Michael Ringrose called the decision a "severe blow" to the organisers of the Games. "Surely all people from these countries should be stopped from travelling to Ireland," if the Government was serious about preventing the virus from spreading here, he said.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said the travel restrictions imposed on the Hong Kong Delegation were "unnecessary and unreasonable".
"The Hong Kong Delegation has proposed to the Irish Special Olympics Organising Committee a series of precautionary measures for the participating athletes to safeguard their health prior to departure for the Games," he said.
"Being a member of the international community, Hong Kong will fulfill our obligation in preventing the spread of SARS. There is no ground for undue concern."
However, a Department of Health spokesman told ireland.comthis morning the Special Olympics was a "unique event". He said large groups of people were travelling simultaneously and "coming into contact with large groups from many countries", which "in the event of even one case, increases the potential for global spread" of the virus.
The spokesman said if any country came off the WHO list of at-risk countries between now and 10 days before the Games the decision would be reviewed.
Canada was removed from the list yesterday and there is a "slight" possibility Philippines and Singapore might also be taken off the list in time to travel to the Games, he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the move was inconsistent with its latest guidelines for large-attendance events.
A statement from the WHO released yesterday recommends a person who is symptom free and has not been in close contact with a suspected SARS patient "may freely be welcomed without any other measures". It adds that the "best defence.... is good management of the situation" in the "unlikely event" that someone attending a meeting were to become sick.
The Department of Health said it was "up to each individual country" to decide what action to take.
Bray, Arklow and Portlaoise were due to host three of the countries affected. Earlier this week, Hong Kong had announced that it would not be sending a team to the Games. Councillors in Clonmel had voted not to accept the team.
About 7,000 participants, coaches and assistants are scheduled to arrive in Ireland to participate in the Games, which will take place from June 19th to 26th in a number of venues in the greater Dublin area and Belfast.