Dublin finally has its Olympics. Yesterday, at a State reception in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Ireland was officially awarded the 2003 Special Olympic World Summer Games, which will be held that June in a number of venues around the capital. They are the first World Summer Games to be held outside the United States.

In marked contrast to the posturing and pomposity exhibited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in announcing the 2004 games to Athens last year, yesterday's announcement by the president of the Special Olympics organisation, Timothy P Shriver, emphasised the aspirations of cordiality and inclusiveness of the Games, which promise to be the largest sporting and cultural event staged here.

The Games are also the biggest sporting event in the world in each year that they are held, with over 7,000 athletes and coaches from more than 150 countries taking part.

Although the final dates have yet to be confirmed, the Games, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of former US president John F Kennedy and Senator Robert, is the flagship of the Special Olympics Movement. It involves athletes with learning, as opposed to physical, disabilities, The opening ceremony is scheduled for Croke Park, and over the following 10 days competitions will take place at a variety of venues, including Morton Stadium, the National Basketball Arena, the RDS, Point Theatre, Kill International Equestrian Centre, UCD, DCU, the National Badminton Centre and the Phoenix Park.

The Government has committed £5 million to the event, and a further £3 million in sponsorship and in-kind support has already been secured. Although the estimated cost of the Games will be £21 million, an economic impact study prepared as part of the bid process estimated that the benefits to the Irish economy will be in excess of £25 million. Over 30,000 family members and supporters are expected to travel to Ireland to support the competition.

It is part of the principles of the organisation that the families and friends of athletes are encouraged to play an active role in the program and to assist in the training as far as is possible.

"Holding the World Summer Games in Ireland is an important step in our movement's efforts to produce dramatic growth and give voice to the leadership of our athletes from around the world," said Shriver.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the response from the Irish people, Government and corporate sponsors who have demonstrated enthusiastic support for Special Olympics and the 2003 World Games," he added.

Speaking at the reception, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, pointed to the spirit of the Special Olympics as one of courage, resilience and achievement in the face of adversity, and he drew in the issue of equality in sport.

"We intend to show them (athletes) and their families how much we honour their courage, their fortitude and their dedication. Above all, we intend to build a Games that will honour - and give real meaning to - the principle of equality," he said.

The chairman of Special Olympics Ireland, Cyril Freaney, expanded on that theme. "We want everyone to know that our athletes are citizens of their own countries, and full and equal citizens of the world, with indivisible and unconquerable rights. If we can help to raise the consciousness of the world to that fact, we will have achieved all our goals," he said.

The Games will showcase the athletes' skills across a number of disciplines, including aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, power-lifting, roller-skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, team handball and volleyball.

Comparisons to those Olympic Games headed by Juan Antonio Samaranch begin and end with the name Olympics. While the Special Olympics is the only organisation authorised by the IOC to use "Olympics" worldwide, the stated goal of the organisers is far from "Higher, Faster, Stronger". The simple aspiration is "for all persons with a learning disability to have the chance to become useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected".

The movement was founded in 1968, mainly through the involvement of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, at Soldier Field in Chicago where 1,000 athletes with a learning disability from 26 states and Canada took part.

Special Olympic Ireland was founded in 1978 to cater for the 27,000 people with a learning disability on the island. Of these, some 12,000 participate in Special Olympic activities and a number will take part in this year's World Summer Games in North Carolina, which, in terms of competitors, will be the biggest sporting event of this year. The World Athletic Championships in Seville in August may have a bigger slice of the television pie, but fewer athletes.

Ireland will be represented in North Carolina by a team of 77 athletes, who will take part in nine sports.