Yemen team in Charleville:A trip to a donkey sanctuary was the answer to winding down after a 12-hour flight for the Yemeni crew of Special Olympics athletes, who arrived at their host town of Charleville in the small hours of yesterday morning.
However, there was little sign of tiredness in the delegation from the Middle East, who greeted their hosts at the arrivals lounge in Shannon Airport with a traditional Yemeni dance, accompanied by the beat of some drums.
Such enthusiasm was also on display at the lunch reception given in their honour at St Joseph's School, where the 12 athletes and their support team of 13 mingled with their north Cork hosts.
Aged from 10 to 21, six of the Yemeni athletes will compete in volleyball and the other six will be looking for success in athletics. All 12 of the competitors are enrolled at the same school in their home country, where, significantly, they must cope without the benefit of state funding.
"It's great to be here. It's my first time out of my own country and I was worried about where we were going to and who we were staying with, but when I arrived to the airport I got a big surprise when I saw the crowd of people ready and waiting to do anything for us. And now, I feel like we've landed in paradise." said the head of the Yemeni delegation Eman H Engad.
To the beat of the Yemeni drums, and much clapping, they danced hand-in-hand with members of the Team Ireland crew, who will leave Charleville today, bound for their home town of Kilcock.