ROLLER SKATING: King's Hall in Belfast had never seen anything quite like this. Of course concert-goers have lifted the roof to stars like Elton John over the years.
Boxing fans wept to some of Barry McGuigan's finest moments in the ring. But this was different.
Roller skating might not have the adrenaline rush of a 100 metres sprint or the romance of a marathon, but for all that there was still passion a-plenty.
Yesterday saw the "divisioning", or heats section, of the roller skating speed and artistic-dance competitions. The cavernous interior was converted into a sports arena for nearly 100 competitors, although none was from Ireland or Britain.
They were supported by some 220 turquoise-shirted volunteers - in fact some volunteers were there to support other volunteers - and comprised a mix of translators, media officials and other staff.
Also helping were medical staff (red shirts), safety and event services staff (yellow shirts), competition and timing officials (white shirts) and referees in important-looking black-and-white stripes.
Add to the mix the King's Hall staff - in maroon jackets - and hapless-looking media types in the blue bibs and you get the full technicolour picture.
Competitors mingled with their coaches and some family members as the first heats got under way.
In keeping with the spirit of these games, some of the loudest cheers erupted for those who made it to the finishing line successfully and who weren't really in the hunt for a podium finish.
Skaters used both the traditional four-wheeled skates (the sort I fell off as a boy) and the in-line skates which were favoured by the serious speed merchants.
Carol Mitchelle, a coach with artistic skaters with Team Jamaica, said the event had been a landmark experience for the four competitors from her country. "Two of them have been to the World Games before, one of the artistic skaters has been but her partner has not. This is his first time and, as he is hearing impaired, it's interesting working with music with him."
She added that coming to Belfast was special. "It's like a major treat, because they get the chance to travel outside the country. A lot of them are aware of the US but not Europe, so when we were coming some of them wanted to know if they were going to Miami."
While Belfast's citizens welcomed perfect summer skies and a temperature of 21 degrees, the Jamaican contingent huddled in their tracksuits against the "winter" chill.
As for the welcome? "Waterford was out of this world. I think it's the best host programme I've ever been in and I've been in several of them."
She underlined the spirit of the event by making clear the athletes were there to try to win, but added: "They're OK if they don't. At least they'll be brave in the attempt."
Bravery of a different sort was shown by the competitors from Chinese Taipei. They had arrived in Belfast only the night before competition after a difficult journey from the far east.
Su Min Chen, the coach, said: "First we flew to Thailand, then to Amsterdam and arrived here only at 9 p.m. last night. So everyone is very tired."
Jaime Ramos, from Venezuela, thought the facilities in the King's Hall were very good, but he expressed some disappointment that the skating rink was flat and not cambered at the corners to allow for higher speeds.
Indeed, for him, speed was what it was all about. "Carrera," he repeated, before insisting he was in line for gold in all his events.