The torch was welcomed to Northern Ireland

The Flame of Hope was welcomed to Bangor, County Down, on Friday on its way to the opening ceremony of this year's Special Olympics World Games which are being held in Dublin between 21-29 June.

The flame was lit in Athens 10 days ago and since then it has been carried across Europe by a team of police officers and Special Olympics athletes from around the world.

On Friday, an officer from the Police Service of Northern Ireland brought the torch ashore from a Royal Navy ship, which carried the flame from Scotland.

From Bangor, the torch was taken to Stormont before being carried through more than 170 towns around the island of Ireland before arriving in Dublin.

Cities and towns throughout the island are hosting more than 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and 28,000 delegates for the summer games, which have never before been held outside the United States.

The games have been described as the largest sporting event of 2003.

Host city

More than 430 Irish athletes with learning disabilities will take part in 13 different sports from 20-29 June.

The Bocce team, whose event is similar to bowls, are all from Northern Ireland.

Belfast is set to be a host city to more than 1,300 athletes and backroom staff from the US team, while more than 20 towns across Northern Ireland are also hosting competitors.

The games have been described as the largest sporting event of 2003.

A big crowd is expected for the opening ceremony on 21 June at Croke Park, the fourth largest stadium in Europe.

The games has attracted controversy in recent weeks, following a request by the Irish Government for countries affected by the pneumonia-like disease, Sars, not to send teams to the games.

Competitors from China, Taiwan, and Singapore, which have all had substantial outbreaks of Sars, have been asked not to travel to Ireland for the event.

The World Health Organisation has criticised the decision, describing it as inconsistent with the latest guidelines for controlling attendances at large events.