News

Congratulations to Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland and President of the European Olympic Committees, who has been honoured by the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.

Congratulations to all of the Irish Youth Olympic team on their performances in Jaca, Spain, led by Chef de Mission Anne O'Connor.

Discussions about ensuring and safeguarding the autonomy of the Olympic and Sports Movement concluded yesterday at the close of a two-day seminar organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne with adoption of a seven-point resolution.

Irish players will benefit from an Olympic planning course facilitated by double Olympic hockey medallist , and former Irish hockey captain Stephen Martin. The course will help players in their planning for European,World and Olympic competition.

Almost 3,000 athletes from 44 European countries will compete for the medals – representing the cream of Europe's Olympic winter sports stars of the future.

The grant aid comes from the Olympic Solidarity arm of the International Olympic Committee, a body responsible for dispensing a share of the television rights of the Games in order to provide financial assistance at national levels for the development of sport.

He was a competitor in the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics and won over a dozen Irish national championships in many classes. He also served on the Olympic Council of Ireland for more than 10 years and was a renowned sports administrator.

OCI Chief Executive Stephen Martin said "The OCI have appointed Rod in line with a key Athens review recommendation relating to continuity of care for Olympic athletes. His appointment is another example of our commitment to ensure our athletes have the best possible support to perform at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Using rare footage, much of it never before seen in Ireland, fully remastered and in colour, Gold The Ronnie Delany Story, tells the incredible story of the Olympic 1500 final in Melbourne in 1956.

The 11th World Sport for All Congress opened this morning in Havana in the presence of IOC President Jacques Rogge, First Vice President of the Cuban Council of State Raùl Castro and some 300 thought leaders in the field of health, sport and science. Over two-and-a-half days, discussions will focus on the benefits and challenges of physical activity – from promoting the merits of sport and exercise to people of all ages in the developed and developing world to influencing decision makers who can help implement Sport for All ideas and programmes.

John O'Donoghue T.D. Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism today (Wednesday 23nd August 2006) launched the first meeting of the London 2012 Olympics Task Force. This high level group has been appointed to ensure Ireland can identify and maximise the complete range of opportunities arising from its proximity to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012. This task force will draw on the expertise of people from across the sport, tourism, cultural and business sectors supported by staff within the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.