5 Euros Special Olympics

Ireland hosted the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games — the first time the Games were held outside the United States since their founding in 1968. Dublin served as the main venue across June and July, with over 7,000 athletes from 166 nations competing. The Irish government's decision to issue a commemorative coin rather than fold the event into existing circulation coinage reflects the considerable national investment in hosting; Ireland spent roughly €60 million on the Games.