By John Haughey

The Sars controversy has dominated the public build-up to this month's Special Olympics but behind the scenes, Irish officials remain confident of putting on a great show.

Irish folk love their sport but the country, in agreeing to host this event, is taking on something the magnitude of which it hasn't encountered before.

Irish hopeful Sean Maguire with Alex Maskey and Richard Haass

Some 30,000 competitors and officials will begin arriving shortly for an event which takes place from 20-29 June.

The visitors representing in excess of 150 countries will be hosted by more than 170 towns and boroughs on both sides of the Irish border.

For more than a year, anybody travelling in Ireland can't have missed the signs publicising the Games.

And when the athletes arriving in the host towns, they will be greeted by the sight of their national flags and other bunting which organisers hope will make their feel welcome.

We have been genuinely overwhelmed with the way Irish people have responded Games chief Mary Davis

A slick TV advertising and poster campaign has encouraged some 30,000 locals to volunteer their services for the event which is being staged outside the United States for the first time.

All manner of professional people will be taking time off from the day jobs to offer their services at the many venues.

In addition to the many hotels and bed and breakfasts who will hosting athletes and officials at discounted rates despite it being peak season, nearly 1,000 ordinary households will accommodate the special visitors.

"The event is engaging commmunities in a way that no other event has before in Ireland," says World Games chief executive Mary Davis.

"We knew that we could do it but we have been genuinely overwhelmed with the way Irish people have responded".

When the Washington-based Special Olympics Inc decided in 1995 that the 2003 event would take place outside the US for the first time, Argentina was expected to be awarded the Games.

Olympic gold medallist Mary Peters with Irish Games hopefuls

But while Argentina had the better facilities in place at that stage, Ireland's passion swayed the decision-makers.

However, passion alone will not guarantee the smooth running of what is being described as the world's biggest sporting event in 2003.

The Irish Government has ploughed 13 million Euro into the event while 6.5m Euro and 1.5M Euro have come from the European Union and the British Government.

A further 25m Euro has been pulled together from private sector which includes a sponsorship programme to which the Bank of Ireland has been the greatest contributor.

All 21 sports, bar the roller skaking which will be staged at the King's Hall in Belfast, will take place at in and around Dublin.

Spectator admission to all competitions is free and organisers hope to have bumper crowds, starting with the opening ceremony at Croke Park on Saturday 21 June which will feature U2 among the entertainers.