Special Olympics host town committees and bodies representing the disabled yesterday criticised the decision effectively to bar athletes from five SARS-infected countries from competing in next month's games, writes Nuala Haughey.
The disappointed host towns were disturbed that the Olympic delegations had been singled out while other travellers from the countries still enjoyed unrestricted travel to Ireland.
Mr Leonard Murphy from Arklow Host Town Committee said the authorities may have "jumped the gun" in including Singapore in the list, as it is very close to being deemed SARS-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"We have been in daily touch with Singapore until Tuesday, when they were 15 days without a new case and by the weekend they will have 20 days and apparently that will constitute SARS-free status and as such it is a possibility that they could come to the games if the Government allowed them," Mr Murphy said.
The Hong Kong government, in a statement, said it deeply regretted the decision. The travel restrictions imposed on the Hong Kong delegation were "unnecessary and unreasonable, without giving due regard to the precautionary measures proposed to be undertaken by the Hong Kong delegation to prevent the transmission of SARS."
Mr Henry Ming Jeng Chen, the representative in Ireland of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, said the athletes who were to be hosted in Portlaoise would be hurt and disappointed by the decision.
Mr Pat Vance, the chairman of the Bray Host Town Committee in Co Wicklow, said he had spoken to the Chinese ambassador to Ireland who was "as disappointed as we are in relation to the Chinese delegation", which had offered to undertake a range of precautionary measures under the supervision of the WHO or the Irish authorities.
The decision was described as "at best a clear case of official ignorance and at worst discrimination against people with disabilities" by the Rehab Group.