The ICPSA High Performance programme continues its build up to the first ISSF World Cup of 2008 which takes place in early April at the Olympic shooting ranges in Beijing.
This is a pre-Olympic test event and will be run as a full dress rehearsal for the Olympics in August.
It will offer the first and only opportunity for competitors to train and compete on the same ranges as they will face at the Olympic Games themselves and will provide much valuable information to steer the remainder of the 2008 training plan.
The Ireland Team for this event is Derek Burnett, Philip Murphy and Colin Tanner with Thomas O’Grady and David Goulding competing in the MQS category.
The Team will commence advanced training in Italy this week which will see them undergo their final preparations prior to their departure to Beijing for the test event.
With less than 150 days to the start of the Olympics, a very intensive programme of training and competition is underway to ensure that our performance in Beijing is at its peak.
What can be said is that while much sacrifice has already been made by those involved, more will be required in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that on the 9th of August 2008 Ireland is best prepared to compete and not just participate.
