The Olympics

[Torn-Ado]

is on next year as you all know.

And the Irish equestrian team failed to qualify. For a country with a proud tradition in all matters of an equine nature, that really is p!ss poor.

Doubt there will be any medals coming home from Beijing.

[Aberdonian Stu]

And the Irish equestrian team failed to qualify. For a country with a proud tradition in all matters of an equine nature, that really is p!ss poor.

Wasn't that the problem at the last games?

Seriously though I think it doesn't look terribly promising. Our performances in general are awful.

Rowing is always an outside shot but it needs a lot to go right, ditto on the sailing front.

The British model, where they focused on events they could win, is one to follow. Minority sports like sailing and cycling (specifically non-road racing) were given a disproportionately favourable funding boost for their size over the past decade and it has paid off by delivering the UK's two best medal hauls since 1948 (when they hosted them) in the past two summer games.

Countries like Denmark and Finland, who are both nearer Ireland size wise, tend to do the same and it pays off.

The Finns are a notable example as like Ireland sports that aren't in the summer games are big in Finland. Yes most of the sports that are big in Finland that don't fit into the summer games do fit into the winter games but the point is that they still bring home medals in the summer games in spite of this.

[Dodge]

And the Irish equestrian team failed to qualify. For a country with a proud tradition in all matters of an equine nature, that really is p!ss poor.

The eventing team and dressage will be there, as will individual show jumpers. FOr sucha proud tradition we've never got an olympic medal, had only 2 world championship medals and last year were relegated form the top league.

Doubt there will be any medals coming home from Beijing.

Twice in the last 40 years have we had more than one medallist

We're a tiny country with no sporting infrastucture. The only sports to receive significant funding in this country in the last 10 years has been GAA and Horse Racing.

BTW I'm an Olympics geek...

[ifk101]

I think Ireland is quite competitive in athletics considering our top facilities are a barn in Nenagh and the "picturesque" Morton Stadium.

The difference between Ireland and the Scandinavian countries is that sport betting is state-controlled and all monies generated via sport betting is pumped back into sporting facilities. And considering the general tax level is much higher in Scandinavia than Ireland, there is much more governmental money available for sporting facilities. Additionally our government choses to prioritise funding for certain "sports" - I'm not sure if horse and greyhound racing fall under government sport spending - they shouldn't IMO.

[pete]

When you think of the money pumped directly & indirectly into Irish Horses (other things pumped into them for thats a different story) the performances in the Olympics have been very poor.

I don't think any records will be set in the out door events in the next Olympics unless the athletes are wearing masks. BBC - Olympics Smog Fears

[beautifulrock]

We have a few decent boxers, quite a bit of money has gone into this over the last 5 years.

[pete]

We have a few decent boxers, quite a bit of money has gone into this over the last 5 years.

The boxers have delivered results in a massively competitive sport (qulaifying for the Olympics is a big achievement) so they deserve funding as well as the fact its a bigger sport in disadvantaged areas.

It must be very expensive to send horses & riders half way across the world when they can't delivery unless the horses on illegal substances.

[Torn-Ado]

We have a few decent boxers, quite a bit of money has gone into this over the last 5 years.

Thats the only sport in which we have a slight hope of getting a medal. Not too sure if there will be many Irish qualifiers but if they do, then there is always a decent chance unlike the other sports.

[Dodge]

It must be very expensive to send horses & riders half way across the world when they can't delivery unless the horses on illegal substances.

bar the world, euro and olympic championships most of the riders pay for themselves (hence all their horses having company names in them...)

We've medal contendors in shooting, rowing, boxing, athletics and showjumping (Jessica Kuerten will go as an individual). As ever these are only contendors and luck etc will play a part. In Boxing Darren Sutherland is ranked in the top 5 in the world but if he faces the Cuban or Russian in the first round he's likely to go out. However they could fight each other and Darren could well make the final. Kenneth Egan is another legitimate medal contendor in boxing.

If we get one medal it will be a succesful olympics

[Torn-Ado]

bar the world, euro and olympic championships most of the riders pay for themselves (hence all their horses having company names in them...)

We've medal contendors in shooting, rowing, boxing, athletics and showjumping (Jessica Kuerten will go as an individual). As ever these are only contendors and luck etc will play a part. In Boxing Darren Sutherland is ranked in the top 5 in the world but if he faces the Cuban or Russian in the first round he's likely to go out. However they could fight each other and Darren could well make the final. Kenneth Egan is another legitimate medal contendor in boxing.

If we get one medal it will be a succesful olympics

Whos our medal contenders in athletics? Derval O Rourkes form this year is poor and Alastair Cragg is average at best. The most in form athlete is Paul Hession but there is no hope of a medal there.

[Dodge]

O'Rourke is running quicker this year than ever before. her whole season is based around the world championship. Up until last year she hadn't ran below 13s now she's regularly hitting 12.8x so a 12.6x time in the championship is likely (and that is definitely medal contention) Eileen O'Keefe in the ladies hammer is also likely to reach the final.

Cragg and Hession have no chance (although a final is not unobtainable for Hession)

[Aberdonian Stu]

I've been impressed with O'Rourke's development and she's definitely in with a very good shout of making the Olympic final but given that the Americans are currently strong in her event, as well the better Kallur sister, a medal will be a tough ask. I wouldn't rule her out though.

The problem for the boxers is qualifying as they really need a bit of luck in that respect. Only 8 European boxers go to the Olympics in each weight class and the competition for places is extraordinarily intense. Any who make it to Beijing have a shot but again it's an uphill task.

[Dodge]

Qualifying for the boxing has changed. Everybody who reaches the last 8 in this years world championships (held in Chicago) will qualify. Then there'll be regional qualifiers.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Oh really, how many does Europe get on top of the worlds places?

[Dodge]

I think its still about 8 in total*. Its just different now. We have 4/5 potential qualifiers in boxing. 3 would good.

We should have 3/4 rowing squads there. Outside chance of medals in 2 events. (The lightweight 4 have had a terrible season after previously being favourites to medal)

* Just checked and it varies from weight to weight. 7 in heavy and superheavy. 8 in Light Fly to Feather. 9 From Light to light heavy

[soccerc]

FOr sucha proud tradition we've never got an olympic medal, had only 2 world championship medals and last year were relegated form the top league.
BTW I'm an Olympics geek...

Have to disagree, there is an equestrian medal from the 1988 games in the Olympic records.

[Dodge]

Not representing Ireland there isn't. We didn't win any medals at all in 1988

Oh and I was wrong. We've only won one medal at World Championship level.

[soccerc]

Not representing Ireland there isn't. We didn't win any medals at all in 1988

Oh and I was wrong. We've only won one medal at World Championship level.

There was a gold medal winner for Ireland at the Seoul Summer games in 1988. It's obscure, but is part of the IOC records

[Dodge]

*sigh*

if its not included in the medal table it doesn't count. even the art ones from yesteryear

[beautifulrock]

Not representing Ireland there isn't. We didn't win any medals at all in 1988

Yes 1988 was a terrible Olympics for Ireland although for various reason one of the more memorable in recent time. We have the Ben Johnson situation, Flo Jo (now deceased) winning the 100 & 200m in world record times that still stand. Greg Louganes splitting his head against a diving board knowing he had AIDS but not telling anyone. I know the virus cannot be spread via water but still and finally Roy Jones Jnr losing on point to a South Korean, a very very dodgy call. Oh Kristian Otto won six gold medals in swimming as well.