Louis Walsh said comments were aimed at those using games for PR

The pop impresario had said in an interview in Saturday's Irish Times newspaper that the games held in Dublin for people with learning disabilities were "not the kind of thing you want to watch on TV".

Speaking on Sunday, he said his comments were aimed only at public figures using the event as a public relations stunt rather than people working behind the scenes.

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 been described as the largest sporting event of 2003.

Acts to perform at the opening ceremony in Dublin on Saturday include U2 and the Corrs, as well as the Walsh-managed Westlife and Samantha Mumba.

Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also due to take part in the event at Croke Park.

I would never want to hurt or insult anybody and I apologise to anyone I did hurt or insult Louis Walsh

Mr Walsh said on Sunday that he had only said in public what many people thought in private.

"It was never my intention to insult anybody, especially the tens of thousands of people that work on the Special Olympics behind the scenes," he said.

"I would never want to hurt or insult anybody and I apologise to anyone I did hurt or insult."

However, he added: "A lot of public figures use the Special Olympics as a great photo opportunity and a PR stunt for them.

"That is what I meant. I wasn't getting at the people involved in the Special Olympics or the actual show itself, because I think it is going to be a great show."

Special Olympics chief executive Mary Davies said the remarks were "an insult to all the people of Ireland".

"I have no idea why he ever chose to say that but I think that the people will be very dismissive of it because it was such an insult to them."

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.