Remarks at the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay
Olympic House, Howth, Co. Dublin, 6th June 2012
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo ar maidin ar an ócáid stairiúil seo chun an Tóirse Oilimpeach a fháiltiú go hÉirinn.
I am delighted to be here this morning on this historic occasion to welcome the Olympic Torch to Ireland.
It is a great honour for Ireland to be involved in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and to be part of the Olympic Flame’s journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to the Olympic Stadium in London for the start of the 2012 Games in July. This is a valuable opportunity for us to showcase our rich sporting and cultural heritage on the international stage ahead of the greatest sporting event in the world.
The Olympic Flame is one of the enduring symbols of the Olympic Games, representing peace, unity and friendship. The symbolism of the Olympic Flame crossing the border earlier this morning is emblematic of the unifying power of sport and a reflection of the warm friendship that now exists across the island of Ireland and with our neighbours in Britain. The happy conjunction of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and the hosting of the Olympics in London makes 2012 a very special year for the British people and we wish them well in all these celebrations.
Sport builds bridges between people and the making of friendships is a fundamental part of sporting endeavour. At the heart of the Olympic ideal is the concept of dedicated athletes from different nations meeting in a spirit of mutual understanding, friendship and fair play to determine who will excel on the day. Win or lose, to have merited the honour of representing your country at the Olympic Games is in itself a major achievement.
Eascraíonn cairdeas láidir as eachtraí spóirt. Is é an cairdeas bunchloch gach cluiche spóirt. Is é croílár an eitic Oilimpeach ná lúthchleasaithe ó gach cearn den domhain a bhailiú le chéile in aon áit amháin. Tuigeann gach lúthchleasaí go mbaineann cairdeas agus cothrom na féinne le gach spórt agus beidh an lá ag an té a fhaigheann an lámh in uachtar ar an lá. Má bhíonn nó mura mbíonn an lá agat, is mór an onóir é go bhfuil tú i d’ionadaí ar do thír féin ag na Cluichí Oilimpeacha.
Irish athletes have a long tradition of doing well at the Games, and I was recently in Clonmel where the South Tipperary County Museum holds Irelands first Olympic Medal, won by T.F Kiely at the 1904 Olympic games held in St. Louis, USA.
As President, I offer my congratulations to those who have been chosen as torchbearers to carry the Olympic Flame today. It is very fitting that some of our own Olympic medal winners will be part of the Torch Relay around Dublin. These Olympic heroes together with the torchbearers representing other sports such as Gaelic games, soccer, rugby, Paralympics and Special Olympics are wonderful ambassadors for sport and for Ireland. Their dedication, discipline and achievements at national and international level have provided inspiration, encouragement and a great sense of pride. They have helped to lift the spirits of the nation and have given us all many moments to cherish and celebrate.
Equally important, however, are the representatives from local communities who have also been selected as torchbearers for today’s Torch Relay. These inspirational people are wonderful role models – not only in sport but in the many ways they contribute to their communities. They are worthy carriers of the Olympic Flame. I would like to particularly congratulate Cillian Kirwan from St Fintan’s High School in Sutton who was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch here in Howth and who is himself an accomplished sports person. The health, social and cultural benefits of sport are widely recognised and I hope that more and more people will be inspired by the Olympic Games to follow the example of their sporting heroes and take an active part in sport.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Pat Hickey and the Olympic Council of Ireland for their kind invitation here today and to recognise the pivotal role played by Pat in securing agreement from the International Olympic Committee and the London Organising Committee for the torch relay to travel to Ireland. We look forward with great anticipation to the start of the London Games in seven weeks’ time and I wish the Irish Team the best of luck in their efforts.
Tá réimse leathan spórt le feiceáil againn an tsamhraidh seo – tá Craobh an Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael ar siúl cheana féin, beidh foireann sacair na hÉireann ag imirt sa Pholainn go luath. Beidh foireann rugbaí na hÉireann ag imirt in aghaidh na All Blacks agus beidh lúthchleasuithe Éireannacha ag glacadh páirt sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha agus Parailimpeacha.
Is ábhair bróid na hócáidí agus tugann muid ár tacaíocht do na fir agus na mná spóirt ar fad.
[There is an excellent range of sporting activity we can look forward to this summer – the GAA championships already underway, our national soccer team competing in Poland, our rugby team in test competition against the All Blacks and our athletes representing Ireland in the Olympics and Paralympics. We have much to be proud of, much to cheer for and we wish all our sports men and women every success].
Go n-éirí go geal libh agus go raibh míle maith agaibh.