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The Paralympic flame has been lit under the Arch of Constantine, in the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. The flame was ignited at the coming together of three symbolic figures: a winner at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games, a current athlete with a disability and a young person with a disability.

As the 2006 Irish Winter Olympic team members depart to all corners of Europe, the entire squad and the team management wish to express their sincere thanks for the many expressions of good wishes and congratulations which flowed into the Irish team headquarters in Turin and into the Olympic Council offices in Dublin during the Games.

Kirsty McGarry is lying in 42nd position after this morning's first run in the women’s Giant Slalom on the Sises course in Sestriere. She is 7.30 seconds down on the current leader Julia Mancuso of the USA.

Ireland’s cross country skier Rory Morrish from Cork will be the Irish flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday Feb 26th. Rory will lead the small but successful Irish squad into the Olympic Stadium in Turin after an Olympics full of promise for the future of winter sports in Ireland.

Kirsty McGarry, Ireland's female alpine skiier, finished just outside the top 30, but in the top half of the field, in the women's giant slalom which concluded this afternoon.

Kirsty McGarry finished in 42nd position after her 2nd Run in the Women's slalom event, which was held yesterday evening under lights. Her aggregate time of 1:42.43 was 13.39 seconds behind Anjan Paerson of Sweden who managed to retain her 1st position from the afternoon run.

Kirsty McGarry is in 48th position after this afternoon's first run in the Women's Slalom Competition. She is 7.26 seconds down on the current leader Anja Paerson of Sweden.