DUBLIN, June 22: The 2003 Special Olympics was officially opened on Saturday night at glittering ceremony in Dublin’s Croke Park sports stadium.

Some 7,000 athletes, all of them suffering from learning difficulties, will be taking part in what has been billed the world’s largest sporting event of 2003.

Up to 75,000 people attended the ceremony, including the 160 participating delegations, their families and supporters.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela and boxing legend Muhammad Ali joined Irish President Mary McAleese and Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver as guests of honour at the event.

Screen stars Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore and rock idol Jon Bon Jovi were also present.

President McAleese formally welcomed the athletes and joined Nelson Mandela to declare the 11th Special Olympics World Games open.

Celebrations were led by Bono, U2, the Corrs, Samantha Mumba and the Irish tenor Ronan Tynan as part of a strong line up of celebrities and stars from the worlds of international sport and showbiz taking part.

A song specially written for the Games, “May We Never Have to Say Goodbye”, was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, many of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, a pipe band and a choir of 500.—dpa