Minneapolis -- After 20 hours, a weather-delayed flight from Dublin, a change in routing in Amsterdam, countless in-flight beverages and two movies, the 12-member Irish Special Olympics delegation looked forward to getting some sleep and to skiing on snow.

Irish coach Kathleen Sythes and athlete Cormac Maguire walk past the Cypriot delegation as they leave the plane about 1:30 a.m. Thursday in Anchorage. (Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News)

The six athletes -- four men, two women, all alpine skiers -- have practiced on a white plastic slope in Dublin. Some haven't skied on snow since the Toronto World Games four years ago.

Dublin's slope is 190 meters long and, at its steepest, 23 degrees. It holds 18 gates, said head coach Eddie Sythes. The athletes said it's like skiing on moist toothbrush bristles.

Sandwiched between a Nathan's Famous Hotdog stand and a sea of pay phones Wednesday night in the D concourse of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, the team waited for its Northwest Airlines flight to Anchorage, where the Games begin Sunday. Closer to the gate, members of the Cypriot delegation used seats as beds and slept for a few hours.

The Irish team's departure from Dublin was delayed by a rare snowstorm. Originally scheduled to fly through Seattle, the members were thankful bad weather had forced them to bypass that earthquake-damaged airport for Minnesota.

The group's only trouble was the lack of a team cheer. Athlete Lorraine Whelan proposed a Coolio song.

"I'll see you when we get there, if we ever get there," they chanted.

All day Wednesday, the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport buzzed with Special Olympics activity. Northwest Airlines, a premier 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games sponsor and the event's official airline, displayed event banners. The airline chose Special Olympics as its first-quarter charitable support program and offers passengers a chance to donate mileage and money. Donated miles will go into an account to fly Special Olympics volunteers and athletes.

The airline also extended to the athletes -- who come from 80 countries and speak 29 languages -- fare discounts and added a flight into Anchorage, said spokesman Scott Ingham.

Minneapolis television and newspaper reporters gathered at the G concourse at 2 p.m. Wednesday to photograph the 50-member Greek delegation. Dressed in blue and black Timberland parkas, zipped all the way up in the warm airport, the team circled Northwest executive vice president Steve Gorman.

"Hellas, Hellas" -- "Greece, Greece" -- they cheered as they waved national flags and a Special Olympics banner.

Gorman welcomed the team to Minnesota and crowned each athlete with an olive wreath. The tradition stems from ancient Olympic Games when victors were given wreaths, said to provide the protection of Greek gods.

Gorman's words were translated by Joanna Despotopoulou, president of Special Olympics in Greece.

Despotopoulou walked with Gorman as he placed the wreaths on athletes' heads. One asked if he was the prime minister of Minnesota; others said thank you.

The 30 Greek athletes will compete in everything but snowboarding, said Gerard van Hattem, one of the coaches. The members were most excited about snow and wore their wreaths over their red fleece hats.

Volunteers, spectators, coaches and medical workers also packed planes headed to Anchorage. Andy Jette, Bob Mero and Hal Downing -- three friends who are on the ski patrol at Smuggler's Notch, a Vermont resort -- took two weeks off from their jobs to work at Alyeska Ski Resort, the World Games alpine ski venue.

"It's my dream just to see Alaska whether to hunt, fish or ski," said Jette, who works for ice-cream maker Ben and Jerry's and has been a Special Olympics volunteer for years. Ben and Jerry's provided a grant making his trip possible.

"You know, you may think you're going to give something to the athletes, but when you go home you'll realize they give something to you," Mero said.

Before boarding the plane to Anchorage, the Irish athletes sang songs and stretched their legs. One athlete yearned for a good cup of Irish tea. The team was dressed in blue Umbro team uniforms, with matching blue polo shirts and light blue ski jackets. They brought team pins and shamrock pins. A few had attached small stuffed leprechauns to their bags.

For Irish athlete Finbarr Hughes, it's his second World Games. In Toronto he won a silver and a bronze medal. Hughes and the rest of the Irish athletes will compete in the slalom, grand slalom and downhill. Some have trained together for seven years.

It's especially exciting for Ireland, which will host the summer Special Olympics World Games in 2003.

"We'll have loads of fun in Alaska," said Warren Tate, the team's most outspoken athlete. Tate said he hoped to win a gold medal and also wanted to know if there were any "good discos."

The five-hour flight to Anchorage on Wednesday night was full. Delegations arrived in Anchorage at 1 a.m. Thursday and were shuttled from the arrival gate onto a Gray Line of Alaska tour bus.

"I can't believe I am finally here," said Irish athlete Whelan. "This is just so cool."

Reporter Molly Brown can be reached at mbrown@adn.com.