The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in East Asia threatened to prevent the Special Olympics Programs of China, Hong Kong, and Macau from attending the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland. In the weeks prior to the Games, Special Olympics, the 2003 Games Organizing Committee, and the East Asia Programs worked with the Irish government to develop a mutually acceptable protocol allowing the teams to travel to Ireland and compete in the Games. Each Program was forced to revise travel plans and shoulder significant additional costs to get to the Games, but despite these challenges, the East Asia region was represented by all of its Programs at the Games.

Special Olympics China reduced its team size and selected athletes from cities and provinces not affected by the SARS epidemic, such as Shanghai and Heilongjiang. Special Olympics Hong Kong brought the athletes and other delegation members to Macau for a 10-day observation period. Special Olympics Chinese Taipei faced the largest hurdles and undertook a bold campaign to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, for a 10-day observation period. The athletes from Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei underwent daily examinations by physicians during the observation period and thus were able to attend and compete in the Games.

The Chinese Taipei team arrived in Dublin on 24 June, missing Opening Ceremonies and several days of competition. The team went on to spend several days with their Host Town, Portlaoise, after the Games ended.