Sports

Introduction to Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey /

At the Olympic Winter Games, women compete in an eight-team tournament whereas men compete in a 12-team tournament.
Each country may have one men’s and one women’s team. Men’s teams have 23 players (20 players and three goal keepers, while women’s teams have 20 players (18 players and two goal keepers), with a maximum of six players – including the goalie – permitted on the ice at any given time. Players may be substituted at any time during the game. For contact details of Irish Ice Hockey Association please click on Full story

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Introduction to Judo

Judo /

Although Judo is a martial art, its practice and methods are based around gentleness. Giving way to the strength of the opponent, adapting to and using it to your advantage will achieve victory over the opponent. For contact details of Irish Judo Association please click on Full story

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Introduction to Hockey

Hockey /

Hockey for men first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908, which England won. It then disappeared off the schedule until 1920 and has been part of the games ever since. Women’s hockey was introduced in 1980.
In Beijing 2008 the women's competition was increased from 10 to 12 teams; the same number that compete in the men's tournament. For contact details of Irish Hockey Association please click on Full story

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Introduction to Handball

Handball /

Handball is played in an indoor court between two teams, of seven players each. The players’ objective is, by only using their hands, to put the ball into the goal post of the opposing team, thereby scoring a "goal". The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins. For contact details of Irish Olympic Handball Association please click on Full story

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Introduction to Gymnastics

Gymnastics /

Gymnastics is one of the oldest Olympic sports. It has always been a part of the ancient, as well as the modern Olympic Games. The term “gymnastics” derives from the Greek word “gymnos”, meaning naked. This is also the root of the word “gymnasium”, which was a training area where athletes gathered to exercise, compete in sports and receive training in philosophy, music and literature. For contact details of Irish Gymnastics Ltd please click on Full story

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Introduction to Football

Football /

Modern football has evolved from a game played in streets and schools in the mid 1800s to the most widely played game on earth played in almost every town and village in the world, from youngsters kicking a ball about in the streets and local league teams playing for local honour to vast stadiums where the multi million pound clubs draw up to 100,000 fans each week. For contact details of Football Association of Ireland please click on Full story

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Introduction to Fencing

Fencing /

Fencing is one of only four sports that have been featured in every modern Olympic Games, beginning in 1896. Fencing calls for adaptability, inventiveness, good organization, and patience. This is achieved by good partnership between the fencer and the fencing master. Hard effort is needed if a competitor is to be ready for a match, and long hours must be spent in training, where great attention and discipline are needed. For contact details of Irish Fencing Federation please click on Full story

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Introduction to Equestrian

Equestrian /

The Equestrian disciplines are unique among Olympic sports, in the sense that men and women compete on the same terms and horse and rider are both declared Olympic medal winners.
Rider and horse are considered a team. Years of systematic efforts are required for the team to be able to perform adequately various exercises of skill, speed, endurance, and jumping of obstacles. For contact details of Horse Sport Ireland please click on Full story

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Introduction to Cycling

Cycling /

Cycling made its Olympic debut in the inaugural modern Summer Games in Athens, Greece, in 1896. That year, road race competitors did two laps of the marathon route from Athens to Marathon and back – a total distance of 87 kilometres. Although road racing was absent from the schedule in 1900, 1904 and 1908, it has been part of the rosta of sports ever since.
A team road race event was added to the programme in 1912, but it was dropped in 1956 in favour of a 100km team time trial that stayed on the schedule until 1992, when it was replaced by an individual time trial. A women's road race was added in 1984, with individual road time trials for women joining the schedule in 1996. For contact details of Cycling Ireland please click on Full story

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Introduction to Canoeing

Canoeing /

Canoe and kayak flatwater racing is very similar to rowing, in that competitors race across expanses of calm water, rather than slalom down white water rapids. But, it requires a very specialised technique that calls on strength, speed, stamina and co-ordination in equal measure. There are subtle differences in the construction of close-topped canoes and open-topped kayaks, as well as the technique used to propel them along the water, leading the two different categories. For contact details of Irish Canoe Union please click on Full story

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