Sun sets on Special Olympics

The flame burns at the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics

A schoolboy is coming home to a hero's welcome, having won seven medals in the Special Olympics.

Conor Maguire, 12, from west Belfast, walked away with the medals and stole the hearts of the crowd for his gymnastics skills in Dublin last week.

Many small miracles of courage and determination took place in a week of athletic feats by disabled people in the first Special Olympic Games to be staged outside the United States.

These athletes showed true sportsmanship and courage.

They promoted the ability, not disability, of hundreds of competitors from all over the world.

In celebration of them all, more than 80,000 people were in Croke Park on Sunday 29 June for the closing ceremony of the games.

The medals were the icing on the cake because he has partied, he has had a ball - just the enjoyment in watching that was unbelievable

Maura Maguire
Mother of competitor

As pop stars sang and politicians rubbed shoulders with film stars, the real heroes got ready for a homecoming to remember.

Conor Maguire's proud father and mother, Maura and Sean, said it was a week that they would never forget.

"I can't believe the things they have done in Dublin for these Special Olympians," said Sean.

"It has been fantastic. As the father of a medal winner, I am totally overwhelmed."

Maura said the medals were the "icing on the cake".

"We knew that whether he would win or not, Conor would enjoy the week," she said.

"The medals were the icing on the cake because he has partied, he has had a ball.

"Just the enjoyment in watching that was unbelievable. Everybody keeps using the word 'unbelievable' because that is what it has been."

It was an emotional farewell for the athletes, their families and everyone in Croke Park on Sunday night.

Pop stars sang as the flame was passed on to Japan, the next host of the games.

And President of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke for everyone when she thanked the Special Olympians for giving the people of Ireland the time of their lives.