A History of Team Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games

Ireland’s four Olympians from the Milano Cortina Games have been formally welcomed home with a reception in Dublin city centre. Freestyle skier Ben Lynch, alpine skiers Cormac Comerford and Anabelle Zurbay, and cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgård were recognised for their performances and their contribution to Team Ireland’s Winter Olympic campaign at the Department of [...]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce that Ben Lynch, Irish freestyle skier, will serve as Team Ireland’s flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Verona tonight. Lynch capped off a standout Games for Ireland with a historic performance that saw him become the first Irish [...]

Day Fifteen – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Thomas Maloney Westgård rounded out Team Ireland’s performance at the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina 2026, finishing 23rd in a brutally competitive race in Predazzo, competing in the Cross-Country Men’s 50km Mass Classic. Norway dominated what is one of the most prestigious events in Cross-Country [...]

Day Fourteen Finals – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 History maker Ben Lynch has finished a brilliant eighth place in the Finals of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno tonight, posting an impressive score of 75.00 in the final run of the event. Lynch’s result marks [...]

Day Fourteen – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 In sensational style, Team Ireland’s Ben Lynch qualified for the Olympic Final of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe, finishing 11th in the qualifiers with a top score and personal best of 75.75. The top twelve qualifiers from today’s qualifying two rounds progress to the Olympic Final [...]

Day Twelve – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26   Seventeen-year-old Anabelle Zurbay capped her Olympic debut with a determined performance in the Women’s Slalom today, finishing 48th with a combined time of 1:58.50 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The overall competition was won in style by USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin in 1:39.10, [...]

Day Ten – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 A gritty performance from Cormac Comerford in the Men’s Slalom at the Olympic Winter Games in Bormio saw the Dubliner finish 31st overall with a combined time of 2:10.24, following a dramatic recovery on the infamous Stelvio course. In a race marked by extremely challenging conditions, [...]

Anabelle Zurbay became Ireland’s 35th Winter Olympian today, making history as the youngest Alpine skier to represent Team Ireland at the Winter Games. The 17-year-old finished 48th in the Women’s Giant Slalom in a time of 2:31.70, delivering a composed performance on the Olympic stage in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Racing among the sport’s elite, Zurbay clocked [...]

Day Eight – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26   In his third race of the Olympic Games, Cormac Comerford finished 42nd in the Giant Slalom, posting a combined time of 2:41.75. Racing in Bormio, the Dubliner contested the first of his technical events, recording a time of 1:24.32 on the opening run before clocking [...]

Day Seven – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Team Ireland’s Thomas Maloney Westgård was the sole Irish athlete in action today at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The Norway-based skier was competing in the Cross-Country 10km Free Interval Start at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium, in what was his second race of three in [...]

Day Five – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Alpine Skier Cormac Comerford was back in action this morning, competing in the Men’s Super-G speed event in Bormio. The Dubliner held his form on one of the toughest courses in the world to finish 37th with a time of 1:34.58. The event was dominated by [...]

Day Two – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Three-time Olympian, Thomas Maloney Westgård finished his first race of three at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with a 35th place in the Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon in a time of 49.24.6. The Cross-Country skiing events take place in the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium [...]

Day One – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26 Dubliner Cormac Comerford launched Team Ireland’s Olympic campaign today, officially becoming Ireland’s 34th Winter Olympian as he competed in the Men’s Downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Racing on the iconic Stelvio Slope, the Alpine skier recorded a time of 2:04.40 to finish [...]

Ireland to walk in three clusters in tonight’s celebration at Milano Cortina ‘26 The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games officially open tonight, with opening-day celebrations taking place across four clusters in northern Italy. Team Ireland will be represented by four athletes, all competing in snow sports.   While the main Opening Ceremony is staged [...]

  The road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games has been defined by exceptional standards and relentless ambition. Over recent seasons, Irish winter athletes have competed in some of the most demanding international environments in sport, raising the level of performance required simply to qualify for these Games. To stand on an Olympic [...]

The youngest of four boys to Irish Dad Kevin and Mum Claire from South Africa, Ben spent his first couple of years in Dublin before the family emigrated to Canada. It was there where he learned to ski on Grouse Mountain close to their family home in Vancouver. His three brothers all skied and he [...]

From the tiny island of Leka off the coast of Norway, which boasts a mere 600 inhabitants, Irish cross country skier Maloney Westgård represents Ireland thanks to his mother Celia Maloney from Dunmore, Co.Galway.     Celia moved to Norway over 35 years ago after meeting her husband Ove on a holiday in the Canaries. [...]

When Dubliner Cormac Comerford takes to the Alpine slopes of Bormio at the 25th Winter Olympiad it will be the realisation of a dream twenty years in the making.     The Glenageary native first encountered the sport by chance at the age of eight. “My Auntie lives in the Kilternan area so we were [...]

Team Ireland’s sole female representative in Milano Cortina will be seventeen year old Alpine skier Anabelle Zurbay, who lives in the world renowned ski town of Vail, in Colorado. Born the second of two children to Sarah and Dale, the teenager unsurprisingly started skiing at the very young age of two, beginning racing at the [...]

Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay to fly the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony in Milano Cortina 2026   The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) is proud to announce Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay as the Allianz Flagbearers for Team Ireland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In line with the [...]

With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games starting in just a few day’s time, Team Ireland are in advanced preparations at their pre-Games camp in the Italian Alps. As one of Team Ireland’s partners, Key Patent Innovations understands the value of preparation, precision and performance under pressure. In this Q&A, Angela Quinlan, Managing Director [...]

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will present one of the most complex logistical challenges in Olympic history. Spread across northern Italy, the Games will take place over vast distances, rugged mountain terrain and multiple athlete villages. For Team Ireland, a small team competing across several locations, the ability to move quickly, safely and independently [...]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) has confirmed a four-athlete Team Ireland squad for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, with Irish competitors set to contest events across four competition clusters in northern Italy.   The team combines emerging talent and established experience, with three first-time Olympians and one athlete competing in his third [...]

The Winter Olympics run from the 6 - 22 February, 2026. The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Ciara McCallion as Games Head of Performance Support for Team Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina in February 2026. In this role, McCallion will lead the performance support provision [...]

Maestro Andrea Bocelli, one of the most recognizable voices on the international artistic scene and a symbol of Italian excellence around the world, will perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games on February 6, 2026.   Over the course of his extraordinary career, Maestro Bocelli has masterfully blended the technical [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026! Qualification for moguls skiing at Milano Cortina 2026 is based on the Olympic Quota Allocation List, which will be published on 19 January 2026. [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026! Qualification for freestyle skiing at Milano Cortina 2026 is based on the Olympic Quota Allocation List, which will be published on 19 January 2026. [...]

Excitement continues to build as we move closer to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, scheduled for 6–22 February 2026. The Olympic flame has now completed its handover in Athens and begun a 12,000 km torch relay across Italy, visiting all 110 provinces in the lead-up to opening night in Milan.    Organisers report [...]

IF ANYONE embodies the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s ‘Dare to Believe’ motto it is the country’s top cross-country skier and programme ambassador Thomas Maloney Westgård. It is 11 years since the 6’ 1” Norwegian-Irish skier first represented Ireland and since then he has shot up through the ranks of the world’s toughest endurance athletes to [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026!   Qualification for cross-country skiing at Milano Cortina 2026 is based on the World Championships in 2025 and the Nation Rankings 2024/2025. Team Ireland [...]

The Olympic flame for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games was lit today in Ancient Olympia, the historic birthplace of the Olympic Games. The ceremony marks the beginning of the flame’s journey towards Italy, where it will arrive on 4 December to travel across the country on its way to the Opening Ceremony on [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026! In Cortina, 25 quota spots will be available for athletes in the Women's Single, with Elsa Desmond's results over the 2025/2026 season contributing to [...]

“Beauty in Action” is the title of the Closing Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games that will take place on the 22nd of February 2026 at Arena di Verona. At the Verona Philharmonic Theater, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 presented today the creative theme of the closing event of the next Olympic Winter [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026! Qualification is based on results from ISU World Cup Competitions during the 2025/2026 season. For Liam and Sean this means strong placings across 4 [...]

On the road to Milano Cortina, we will give you the key sports and athletes that are aiming to qualify and represent #TeamIreland at the Winter Olympic Games in February 2026! Ireland is guaranteed to have one male and one female competing in Alpine Skiing. Athletes are battling out on the slopes over the coming [...]

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, competitions will be spread across six distinct “clusters” in Northern Italy. For Team Ireland, this set-up means athletes will be based in different villages depending on their sport, but together they will showcase Irish talent across a wide range of disciplines. The Milano Cluster will host skating [...]

The official unveiling of the medal designs for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games occurred earlier this month. The ceremony took place in Venice and featured appearances from celebrated Italian athletes Federica Pellegrini and Francesca Porcellato, underscoring the symbolism and national pride of the moment.    Medal Design Highlights  Splitsurface composition: [...]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has published the official Nomination and Selection Policy for the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, taking place from 6th to 22nd February 2026 in Italy. With the Games on the horizon, anticipation is building as Ireland’s top winter athletes gear up for qualification. The newly released policy outlines the [...]

MILANO CORTINA 2026 THE TARGET AS HOST OF NEXT WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES This week, the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) hosted six Irish Winter Olympic hopefuls at a team camp in Dublin, with others dialling in online. With just nine months to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, the camp provided a valuable [...]

DEVELOPMENT OF ICE FACILITY IS KEY PILLAR ON IRELAND’S WINTER SPORTS STRATEGY 2022-2026 The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) today formally endorsed the proposed development of Ireland’s first Olympic standard winter sports and entertainment facility at Cherrywood, South Dublin. The €190 million project, led by Prime Arena Holdings, represents a major advance in delivering on [...]

With just under a year to go, Team Ireland is deep into preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.  Managing Director of Key Patent Innovations, Angela Quinlan caught up with Team Ireland’s Chef de Mission, Nancy Chillingworth, to get an inside look at the unique challenges and innovations shaping Milano Cortina — from decentralised venues to international [...]

Team Ireland is already deep in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, with momentum building after a successful Chef de Mission (CdM) seminar in March. For the first time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the local organising committee held a joint Olympic and Paralympic CdM seminar for a Winter Games — a [...]

Ticket sales for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will begin in February 2025. The deadline to participate in the draw for the first phase of ticket sales is January 15th. Sign up now to access to the best seats for your favorite sports! How does it work? 1. Register to be part of [...]

12 September 2024. Deloitte Ireland and Team Ireland have announced the renewal of their partnership for another four years. The deal will see Deloitte join forces with Team Ireland for the Winter Olympic Games in Italy in 2026 and the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in July 2028. Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland, commented: [...]

Given that he has worked with some of the most successful track cyclists in Olympic history the source of Iain Dyer’s passion for bikes might surprise you. “I was one of those 12-13 year olds captivated by BMX in the early 1980s when it first exploded,” reveals the man who became Cycling Ireland’s High Performance [...]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland today revealed the recipients of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Scholarships, with a total pot of almost €200,000 to be distributed among eight athletes, to assist them with their preparations for the next Winter Olympic Games which takes place in Italy in 2026. The athletes represent seven different disciplines, representing [...]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland today announced details of its 2023 discretionary funding packages to National Federations. A pot of €205,000 has been allocated to projects across seventeen sports, an amount that is in addition to the €115,000 Make a Difference Athlete’s Fund that was distributed to athletes last week. This brings to over one […]

ADDITIONAL FUNDS ADDED WITH €115,000 DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 16 SPORTS Following an overwhelming response in applications to the Make a Difference athlete fund that was announced by the OFI Athletes’ Commission earlier this year, the Olympic Federation of Ireland has channelled an additional €50,000 directly to athletes. Athletes across sixteen sports were awarded a total amount […]

HISTORY-MAKER Elsa Desmond has had a great start to her season, already racking up several PBs and her best ever World Cup result on the international sliding circuit. Ireland’s first ever luge competitor in the Olympics last year takes four months off her job as a medical doctor to compete and has stepped things up […]

CHL CONSULTING FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLISHED AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS UNDERWAY WORLD GOVERNING BODIES IN DUBLIN TO GIVE BACKING Today the Irish Winter Sports Strategy Coordination Group, strengthened their case for the construction of a National Winter Sports Centre in Ireland by publishing  the findings of a feasibility study conducted by CHL consulting and presenting a private […]

Olympic athletes who represented Ireland across the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games were honoured this evening at a special event held by the Olympic Federation of Ireland at the Mansion House, Dublin. The event, which was held in the aftermath of a hugely successful year for Team Ireland, […]

Speaking at the end of what has been a successful Games for Team Ireland at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Chef de Mission Nancy Chillingworth describes an event that saw top performances from Irish athletes, all the more special considering the challenges faced by the athletes in the lead up to the event. This has been […]

THOMAS MALONEY WESTGAARD NAMED AS FLAGBEARER FOR CLOSING CEREMONY Thomas Maloney Westgaard has been named as the flagbearer for Team Ireland in the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The ceremony takes place in the Bird’s Nest stadium at 12 noon Irish time. Maloney Westgaard was both the first Irish athlete to […]

DAY FIFTEEN: TEAM IRELAND IN BEIJING 2022  29th FOR THOMAS MALONEY WESTGAARD IN THE CROSS-COUNTRY 50KM Closing out the Team Ireland action in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Thomas Maloney Westgaard finished 29th in the Cross-Country Skiing 50km Mass Start Free, an event that was reduced on the day to 28km due to strong winds […]

20th FOR BUBBA NEWBY IN THE FREESTYLE SKIING HALFPIPE Double Olympian Brendan Newby has finished 20th in the qualifying rounds of the Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe today, with a score of 47.0 which was achieved in the second run. The top twelve finishers in qualification move to the finals on the 19th February, where they contest […]

DAY NINE: TEAM IRELAND IN BEIJING 2022   25th FOR JACK GOWER IN THE GIANT SLALOM Alpine Skier Jack Gower today finished 25th in his final race of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, the Giant Slalom. On the back of his fantastic twelfth place in the Alpine Combined earlier on in the week, Gower […]

14th FOR THOMAS MALONEY WESTGAARD IN 15KM CLASSIC It was another good day for Team Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, with a fantastic fourteenth place for Thomas Maloney Westgaard in the Cross-Country Skiing 15km Classic. Competing in his second Olympics, the 26 year-old had been targeting a top fifteen result in this […]

Jack Gower, the sole Team Ireland athlete in action today, finished 12th overall in the Alpine Combined event at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing today.  Competing in his first Olympics, Gower started the day strong with fourteenth in the Downhill, before going two places better in the Slalom, and an overall time of 2:37.74 […]

O’CONNOR 15th IN SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE, 48th FOR ARBEZ IN SLALOM Today Snowboarder Seamus O’Connor became the first Team Ireland athlete to ever compete in three Winter Olympic Games, when he finished fifteenth in the Halfpipe with a score of 57.0. Tess Arbez was also in action, finishing 48th overall in the Women’s Slalom after two […]

DAY FOUR PM: TEAM IRELAND IN BEIJING 2022   ELSA DESMOND FINISHES HER OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH Team Ireland’s Elsa Desmond finished her Olympic campaign with another clean run in the Women’s Singles Luge at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The first time Olympian finished her third run with a time of 1:02.254, […]

JACK GOWER JOINS LONG LIST OF DNFS IN SUPER-G There was disappointment for Jack Gower in the Men’s Super-G today in Yangqing, when he joined a long list of DNFs for the Men’s Super-G at the Winter Olympic Games. The 27-year-old was the only Team Ireland athlete in action in the morning session of day […]

ELSA DESMOND MAKES OLYMPIC DEBUT WITH PERSONAL BEST RUN This afternoon’s sole Irish interest at the Winter Olympics in Beijing was in the Yangqing National Sliding Centre, where Elsa Desmond made her Olympic debut competing in the Women’s Singles runs in the Luge. Each athlete competed in two runs this evening which will be tallied […]

GOWER – 31st IN DOWNHILL, DNF FOR ARBEZ IN GIANT SLALOM   Today saw two Alpine Skiers in action for Ireland at the Winter Olympics, with Jack Gower competing in the Downhill event which was rescheduled from yesterday morning, and Tess Arbez in the Giant Slalom. Both competitions were based in the Yangqing zone and […]

MALONEY WESTGAARD KICK STARTS IRISH CAMPAIGN – DOWNHILL RESCHEDULED Team Ireland action at the Winter Olympics kicked off today in Zhangjiakou with Thomas Maloney Westgaard finishing 43rd in the 15km + 15km Skiathlon. The Men’s Downhill event in Alpine Skiing that was meant to take place earlier in the day was rescheduled until tomorrow due […]

BEIJING 2022 OPENING CEREMONY TODAY COMPLETE MEDIA GUIDE TO TEAM IRELAND IN BEIJING REVEALED Today’s opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games takes place today in the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing city. The ceremony that marks the opening of the Games which will run from the 4 – 20 February 2022, will be held […]

THIRTY years ago Terry McHugh did something unique in Irish sporting history. He didn’t just compete in a Winter and Summer Olympic Games – something that only two other Irish athletes have ever done – he did both in one year. 1992 was the last time that the Summer and Winter Olympics were held in […]

Only three athletes have ever represented Team Ireland in both the summer and winter Olympics to date – Terry McHugh, Pat McDonagh and Claire Bergin. Introducing…. Claire Bergin CLAIRE Bergin, from Foxrock was a talented sprinter for DSD AC who competed for Ireland in the 2002 World Junior Championships in Jamaica and at European and […]

JUST 31 Irish athletes have competed for Ireland in the Winter Olympics to date and three of them have done something which is even rarer and particularly historic. Pat McDonagh, Terry McHugh and Claire Bergin are part of an international sporting elite having competed at a Summer and Winter Olympics, an achievement made all the […]

BRENDAN ‘BUBBA’ NEWBY AND ELSA DESMOND NAMED AS FLAGBEARERS FOR TEAM IRELAND AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS Beijing 2022 Flagbearer Announcement to Coincide with the Lunar New Year Brendan Newby and Elsa Desmond have been named as the flagbearers for Team Ireland for the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing later this week. The […]

While the schedules will change a little as we get closer to the Games, the overall look of Team Ireland at the Games will see most of the competition in the first half of the Games for Irish athletes – with five of the six athletes competing in the first week! Noting all the times […]

Last week we officially launched the OFI Dare to Believe Road to Beijing, inviting school children around the country to join us on an interactive journey to Beijing, celebrating winter sports, Team Ireland and the Chinese culture along the way. One of the goals of Road to Beijing is to get children active in a […]

Team Ireland Move from Official Training Camp to Beijing Today Team Ireland move from their pre-games training camp in Innsbruck, Austria, to Beijing for the Winter Olympic Games which run from the 4 – 20 February 2022. The six athletes who will compete in the Winter Games will be spread across two athlete villages, Yanqing […]

Six Irish Athletes Set to Compete in Beijing 2022 Team Announced in Association with Deloitte, Proud Partner to Team Ireland Team Ireland has officially named the team that will compete in the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in just over ten days. Six athletes have been named and they will compete throughout the Games which […]

IRISH cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgaard admits that, in some ways, his life has been unaffected by the global pandemic. “As an endurance athlete you’re nearly always paranoid about your health. If you’re in good shape but get a cold in this game it will take weeks before you’re back on track so you’re always […]

OLYMPIC FEDERATION OF IRELAND LAUNCHES WINTER OLYMPIC SCHOOLS CHALLENGE – ROAD TO BEIJING The challenge is part of the OFI’s ‘Dare to Believe’ programme To coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of Team Ireland competing in the Winter Olympics, and on the back of the hugely successful Olympic Schools Challenge last summer, the Olympic Federation of […]

SEAMUS O’Connor may only be 24  but the halfpipe snowboarder is already a two-time Olympian and the eminence gris of Irish snow sports. Raised in California, with paternal grandparents from Drogheda and Dublin, he made history in Sochi eight years ago when he wasn’t just Ireland’s first Olympic snowboarder but also, aged 16, the youngest […]

Team Ireland celebrates 30 years at the Winter Olympic Games Official Qualification Allocations to be Confirmed in Coming Days Over the coming days the final allocations for Team Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 will be confirmed. The Olympics run from the 4-20 February across three zones in Beijing, the first city […]

A SPECIAL childhood memory and the introduction of his sport into the Winter Olympics meant Brendan ‘Bubba’ Newby (25) achieved his childhood dream in PyeongChang  four years ago. “My dad took me to a couple of the events at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City and since then I always wanted to be an […]

ALEC Scott’s Irish grandad Thomas taught him many invaluable life lessons and sport skills except in the one in which he now excels. “My grandpa is honestly the fittest man I know. He was born in Dublin but grew up in Belfast and moved to Australia when he was around 21. “Right into his 80s […]

Most ‘holiday’ skiers prefer groomed slopes and get the collywobbles at the sight of the ‘bumps.’ When you enter a slope with bumps or ‘moguls’, turns come thick and fast and you pick up speed swiftly with little room to control it. If your technique is poor there is usually only one way it ends […]

What’s seldom is wonderful as Tess Arbez found out in 2020 when she took a year out of competitive skiing to concentrate on her biomedical studies in Geneva. The talented 24-year-old French-Irish skier was only 20 when she made her Olympic debut in PyeongChang in 2018. She was only the sixth woman to represent Ireland […]

THE odds against Maggie Rose Carrigan becoming a competitive snowboarder, never mind chasing Olympic qualification were astronomical when she received some devastating news in her childhood.Up to then her life in Steamboat Springs, Colorado was idyllic. “In winter it’s like a snow globe, a dream. We call it ‘hero snow’ because it’s so perfect you […]

JACK Gower’s dad Richard had no idea what he let himself in for when his son called him at the start of the 2020-2021 ski season to ask for some help.Covid had made life difficult on the international circuit where teams were tightly constrained to their own  bubble and Jack’s arrangement to join a training […]

ELSA Desmond was in the expensive Swiss ski resort of St Moritz last year when she got the news that she was finally a doctor. That gives the impression of a glamorous lifestyle until she explains the harsh reality of mixing such a demanding career with the sliding sport of luge, especially when you’re from […]

With the Winter Olympic Games just 65 days away, Irish athletes are in a period of intense competition around the world competing for the Olympic spots on offer. Athletes from ten sports are competing with chances of achieving qualification places in their events for Ireland. The Winter Olympic Games takes place in Beijing from the […]

Ryan McAnuff (27) and Liam O’Brien (23) line up this weekend at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Dordrecht, Netherlands (25-28 November), the final stage of four qualifying events for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Both McAnuff and O’Brien will be racing from tomorrow (25 November) inside the Optisport SportBoulevard. First up will […]

Irish skater Liam O’Brien marked his 23rd birthday by competing at the third ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Debrecen, Hungary over this weekend and posted his best result of the series so far to edge him closer to possible qualification for the 2022 Beijing Olympics next February. On Day One of racing, O’Brien […]

Irish speed skater Liam O’Brien (22) is back competing this weekend at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Debrecen, Hungary (18-21 November), the penultimate leg of four qualifying events for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. O’Brien will be racing from tomorrow (18 November) inside the Főnix Arena. First up will be the 1500m […]

Short track speed skaters Sean McAnuff (24) and Liam O’Brien (22) begin their journey this weekend to secure quota places for Ireland at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the first of four ISU World Cup events. McAnuff and O’Brien will be racing from tomorrow (21 October) at the Olympic test event inside the […]

The Olympic flame for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 was lit today in Ancient Olympia, Greece. This marks the start of its journey to China where, in just over 100 days, the Games will begin. As a symbol of peace, unity and solidarity, the Olympic flame will convey the values of Olympism to all […]

As it prepares to take centre stage upon the conclusion of both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee used this week’s Delivery Partners Meeting to share important progress updates with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Speaking about the meeting, the IOC’s Milano Cortina 2026 Coordination Commission Chair, […]

Conor Stakelum (28) is Ireland’s sole representative at the Nebelhorn Trophy 2021 this week in Oberstdorf, Germany which serves as the final qualifying competition in figure skating for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Stakelum joins athletes from 25 other nations who will be seeking to pick up one of the remaining seven […]

Deloitte to add 300 new jobs as growth in demand for business transformation services increases Deloitte Ireland today announces that it will become official partner to Team Ireland, signing a four year contract. Team Ireland partnership In addition to embarking on a significant recruitment drive, Deloitte Ireland is also announcing that it has signed a […]

We are very excited to make our second official team selection this week with today’s announcement of Taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley being selected for Team Ireland in Tokyo this summer. Read more about this below, along with some of the highlights from the past week and a look forward to some of the competitions on […]

We have a few exciting events on the radar this week, including the Green Army taking on Olympic Champions GB in hockey’s Softco Series over the weekend.  We spoke with Team Ireland hockey goalkeeper from Larne Ayeisha McFerran, (TRANSCRIPT HERE) who has been quarantining in Belfast ahead of their first clash on the 13th March. […]

This week we have a number of updates across the sports, with Team Ireland athletes in action in both summer and winter events. While many eyes will be on the athletics this coming weekend, we are also keeping a keen focus on the winter sports, where Irish athletes are competing in World Championship events. We […]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce that Ciara McCallion has been appointed as the Head of Performance Support for the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which run from the 4-20 February 2022. McCallion will play an integral role in supporting the athletes during the Winter Games and will be operating under the […]

This was a busy week for us, both from a sporting perspective, but also as an organisation, with the launch of our Don’t Scroll By campaign, targeting online hate speech, a campaign that was led by our Athletes’ Commission and supported by the wider Olympic family, more below. Below we have a number of updates […]

This week much of the focus in the Olympic community has been on the release of the playbooks which is a framework which will underpin how all the various stakeholders are expected to behave at the Olympic Games. What these playbooks have outlined is an emphasis of the IOC and the Tokyo Organising Committee on […]

Winter Olympic hopeful Cormac Comerford is currently competing on the Alpine Skiing circuit. ‘We are less than a week out from World Championships and 1 year from 2022 Winter Games. I’ve been able to put in some solid work towards achieving my season goals and putting myself in the best position for selection for the […]

To mark one year to go until the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has put athletes at the heart of this milestone by featuring their preparation and commitment to getting to the Games during these unprecedented times. Athletes narrate and feature in self-filmed content in a film released on this […]

With one year to go, Team Ireland athletes are currently competing in events around the world with an eye on the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which run from the 4-20 February 2022. In Pyeongchang in 2018, a five strong team flew the flag for Ireland at the Winter Games, and currently athletes across nine […]

Today marks one year to go until the Winter Olympics in Beijing! While much of the sporting calendar has hit pause, it is refreshing to check in with our winter sports, where so far this season around the world 7000 live winter events have taken place in safe and controlled environments. In today’s update, as […]

SILVER MEDAL FOR BRENDAN DOYLE IN THE SKELETON AT THE IBSF NORTH AMERICAN CUP Podium finish in Park City for #TeamIreland legend and #Beijing2022 hopeful Brendan Doyle. Brendan has to travel to get actual skeleton experience, and when he gets an opportunity to compete, this is what happens: IBSF North American Cup in #ParkCity: Men’s […]

The Tokyo Olympic qualification status of the athletes can be found AT THIS LINK which will be regularly updated. While many athletes are currently training from home, with little competition, see below a summary of relevant updates from sports to kick off the new year. To date 52 Olympic athletes have secured Olympic qualification spots […]

FUND WILL SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL TEAM IRELAND OLYMPIC HOPEFULS €50,000 Grant for Irish Athletes on their Olympic Journey The Olympic Federation of Ireland, in conjunction with official sponsor FBD Insurance, have announced the recipients of the ‘Make A Difference’ programme, a €50,000 fund which will assist Ireland’s Olympic hopefuls in their preparation for the Olympic Games. […]

The Olympic Federation of Ireland today announced seven scholarships worth $65,500 USD ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022. The following athletes were successful: Brenden Doyle – Skeleton Tess Arbez – Snow Sports – Alpine Skiing Cormac Comerford – Snow Sports – Alpine Skiing Alec Scott – Snow Sports – Alpine Skiing Seamus […]

After the creation of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee on Monday, the newly formed organisation wasted no time in getting to work, with the two-day (10-11 December) International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Milano Cortina 2026 Delivery Partners Kick-off Meeting held in Milan. Featuring athletes, members of the local sports movement, representatives of the authorities […]

A CHEERFUL PANDA CALLED BING DWEN DWEN HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE OLYMPIC MASCOT FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES BEIJING 2022.   The new Olympic mascot will serve as an ambassador for winter sports, bringing joy to those who participate in and watch the Olympic Winter Games. “Bing” means ice and also symbolises purity and […]

Ireland’s five-athlete team for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang may have been its smallest since 2006 (just four in Sestriere) but this particularly young and inexperienced group did well in extremely testing conditions.   Double Olympian Seamus O’Connor (20), who had competed in both half-pipe and slopestyle snowboard in Sochi, did remarkably well to […]

Irish Team Schedule (Subject to Change)   Feb 11 Pat McMillan Men’s Downhill Jeongseon Alpine Centre 11:00-13:05   Thomas Westgaard 15 km Skiathlon Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre 15:15-17:10   Feb 12 Tess Arbez Women’s Giant Slalom Yongpyong Alpine Centre 10:15-11:55 & 13:45-15:35   Feb 13 Thomas Westgaard Men’s Individual Sprint Classic Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre […]

Seamus O Connor, Bubba Newby and Pat McMillan take to the course to loosen out before their official training sessions start in PyeongChang.

Stephen Martin, Chef de Mission with Physio Sarah Jane McDonnell and Seamus O Connor’s Manager, Kevin O Connor, checking out the training facilities at Phoenix Snow Park

Alpine Skiers Tess Arbez and Patrick McMillian, Cross Country Skier, Thomas Westgard, Half Pipe Skier, Bubba Newby and Snowboarder Seamus O’Connor and their support personnel have left for PyeongChang this morning, we would like to wish them all the very best from all at OCI!

Monday, 29th January 2018: Alpine Skiers Tess Arbez and Patrick McMillian, Cross Country Skier, Thomas Westgard, Half Pipe Skier, Bubba Newby and Snowboarder Seamus O’Connor were today confirmed by the Olympic Council of Ireland (the “OCI”) as the five athletes who have qualified to represent Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games being held in PyeongChang, […]

  ROWING WORLD champions Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll have made the decision to sacrifice the possibility of winning more major international titles in the coming two years to try to fulfil their Olympic dream. The Skibbereen duo swept the boards as a lightweight pair this year, winning World and European titles as well as […]

To view the sports competition schedule for PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games please click the link below: PyeongChang Olympic Comp Schedule Version #10_30112017_Final There will be six new medal events at PyeongChang 2018: Snowboard Big Air (M/W), Speed Skating Mass Start (M/W), Curling Mixed Doubles and the Alpine Team Event. This makes the total gold […]

After a month’s hiatus, Irish short track speed skaters Ryan McAnuff (22) and Sean McAnuff (20) are back on the Audi International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup Short Track Speed Skating circuit this week in the qualification process to secure berths for Ireland at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea.   The […]

  NINE Irish snowsport athletes are hoping to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which will take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from February 9-25. The nine Winter Olympic hopefuls were in Dublin recently for an Athlete Workshop organised by the Olympic Council of Ireland in conjunction with the Sport Ireland Institute. The athletes were […]

Ireland’s Winter Olympians qualified and aspiring will gather at the Sport Ireland Institute on October 9th for an athlete workshop. For the first time ever Ireland have so far four athletes on “A” standard times. Tess Arbez and Pat McMillan will compete in the Alpine Ski, Thomas Westgard in the Cross Country and John Brown […]

The Korean Ambassador Hu Kang-il and Counseller Jin-Weon Chae visted the Olympic Council of Ireland offices on the 30th August coinciding with the ninth and final International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission visit to PyeongChang (29-31 August). The Republic of Korea are very confident that the city is prepared to welcome the world to the […]

The Olympic Council of Ireland are proud to announce that five Irish Olympic hopefuls will receive Olympic Solidarity scholarships to support their bid to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games which will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea in February 2018.   The five are, Tess Arbez, Patrick McMillan Kieran Norris who compete in […]

POCOG President Mr Hee-Beom Lee thanked everyone at the end of the 3 day PyeongChang 2018 NOC Chef de Mission Seminar. It was an opportunity to get all the important information and updates to assist preparations for the PyeongChang 2018 Games. He said “As athletes are the heart of the Games, it is also essential […]

Representatives from National Olympic Committees across the world have arrived for the first of 4 days of updates. They will be briefed on different aspects of preparations while also conducting site visits to venues and other Games-time facilities for the Winter Olympics. It marks a key examination for organisers before celebrations marking a one year […]

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Pyeongchang between the  9th – 25th February 2018 (17 days) with venue locations in : PyeongChang, Gangneung, Jeongseon Here are some links to the sports with a Team Ireland interest: http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/sports/Alpine_Skiing.asp#Alpine_Skiing http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/sports/Freestyle_Skiing.asp?pgdiv=A#Freestyle_Skiing http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/sports/Skeleton.asp?pgdiv=A#Skeleton http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/sports/Speed_Skating.asp?pgdiv=A#Speed_Skating  

OCI Chief Executive Stephen Martin has been appointed by the Olympic Council of Ireland Executive Board to be Team Ireland’s Chef de Mission for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games between 9-25th February 2018. The double Olympic medalist said “It’s a privilege to lead the Irish Team in Pyeongchang following on from Sochi 2014” and added ” […]

With only four days away from the 500 days-to-go mark, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited PyeongChang to review the progress of the next Olympic Winter Games. During his two-day trip, Bach took part in a meeting of sports ministers from the next three Olympic hosts – Republic of Korea, Japan, and […]

Gary Skinner represents Ireland at the World Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer. Gary who is Ireland’s only athelte at the age of 17, he competed in his first day of  competition in Lillehammer, the Super Giant Slalom on Saturday.  The Alpine Centre is situated at Hafjell.  There were 55 competitors in the race and Gary […]

Ireland’s Olympic Winter Games Team arrived back in Ireland and were greeted by family and friends together with press , the Olympic Council of Ireland and Snowsports Association of Ireland officials.

It was appropriate that the youngest member of the Irish Winter Olympics team carried the Irish Flag at last night’s spectacular closing ceremony in Sochi.Seamus O’Connor (16) became the very first snowboarder to represent Ireland at an Olympic Games and enjoyed an impressive time, finishing 15th and 17th in the men’s slopestyle and halfpipe events. […]

The XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi ended with a Closing Ceremony with Seamus O’Connor having the honour of carrying the Irish Flag into the Fisht Olympic stadium. The ceremony, which provided a bright and emotional conclusion to the Games, was dedicated to Russian culture. The audience was presented with a European vision of Russia, in […]

Ireland’s Conor Lyne has officially  finished 40th of 117 competitors in this evenings men’s slalom event in Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre. The event was won by Mario Matt, a surprise winner as he became the oldest Alpine champion in Olympic history, edging pre-race favorite and teammate Marcel Hirscher. Leading after the first run, Matt glided through […]

18 year old Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA became the youngest Olympic slalom champion with victory in the women’s event. The world champion made an early mistake during her second run, but recovered well to post a combined time of one minute 44.54 seconds. Marlies Schild took silver, to add to the one she won […]

Florence Bell will compete this evening in Women’s Slalom with the first heat starting at 16.45pm  and second heat  at 20.15pm under floodlights. Bell is drawn 73 of 88 on the start list and will be looking for two good runs this evening and a finishing position. Conditions on the slopes are again difficult due to […]

Ireland’s Florence Bell will be up next for Team Ireland in Sochi 2104. She will compete on the 18th February in the Giant Slalom. Competition starts at 11.am Sochi time. Bell arrived in Sochi following selection in late January. Her sister Victoria (rival for a place in Sochi) will be close by to support her. […]

So far 25 of the 88 participating countries at the Winter Olympic Games have won medals. Germany head the table at present on Gold medals won (7) with the Netherlands ahead on total medals won (17) .Total number of athletes approximately 2,800, 98 events in 7 sports (15 disciplines). In the London 2012 Summer Games […]

Sean Greenwood showed tremendous courage skill and mental toughness at speeds of 135km per hour at the Sanki sliding Centre this evening to recoup his world standing following last nights difficult run in heat 2. Greenwood spent many hours last night in a the Olympic Medical Centre before being released and passed fit to compete […]

Sean Greenwood blames his Irish DNA for the inner drive. His mother Sibéal, a fine arts teacher at Surrey’s Kwantlen University College, was born and raised in Galway, on Ireland’s west coast, before she immigrated to Canada in the early 1980s along with two of her sisters.  Though the Athlete Family and friends ticketing programme […]

Sean Greenwood gives an insight into the sled he will use at the Sanki Sliding Centre in Sochi 2014 The Sanki Sliding centres highest point is 836 metres above sea level, its lowest point is at 704 metres above sea level and the finish line 711.50 metres. The 1,184 metre course features 17 curves and […]

The 15km classic cross country will be held at Laura Cross Country Centre on the 14th February at 14.00 hrs. In the individual race, the skiers start at 30-second intervals, and the competitor who covers the distance in the shortest time wins. Participants start in reverse order to their ranking for the season, meaning the athletes ranked highest start last. […]

The sport of skeleton originates from athletes that descended down the mountains in a toboggan — a wooden sleigh without runners common among Canadian Indians. Luge’s emergence is referenced in literature from the 16th century. Information about luge as a sport dates back to the mid-19th century, when British tourists in the Swiss Alps started going down the snow-covered slopes on a sled. Skeleton has twice been included […]

Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor came close to making the snowboard halfpipe final  at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. He posted a score of 54.00 in the first run in the semi-finals, enough for fourth overall at that stage with the top six advancing to the final. But he couldn’t improve on his score in the second run […]

Congratulations to Team Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor who has qualified for the semi-final of the halfpipe at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. O’Connor finished eighth in the first heat after opening with a solid 66.25 in his first run at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, before impressing the judges in his second run, where he scored 71.50. The […]

The Men’s half-pipe will take place this afternoon at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park from 2pm Sochi time. Click here to check out the list of athletes including Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor, who will be competing  in the qualification for semi final/final. Picture: William Cherry http://www.sochi2014.com/en/snowboard-men-s-hp-qualification  

Jan Rossiter will fulfill his Olympic dream on February 14th at the Laura Cross Country Centre when he competes in the 15km Classic Cross Country event for Team Ireland. The Laura Centre has a capacity crowd of 7,500 with circuits that drop 80 metres relative to the stadium. Its 1450 metres above sea level and […]

Official practice for Sean Greenwood this morning at the Sanki Sliding Centre. He has two runs 11.20am and 12.20am. With coach Jeff Pain (Canadian Olympic Silver Medallist Turin 2006) , Sean continues to analyse the track and prepare race plans for the men’s skeleton event on February 14/15 . The Sanki Sliding centres highest point […]

Snowboard half-pipe is next up for Seamus O’Connor and Team Ireland. The qualification for half-pipe will be held on February 11th, at 2pm, semi finals at 7.30pm and finals 9.30pm. Snowboarding made Olympic debut in 1998 at the Nagano Winter Olympics. Also featured in the program were the giant slalom and the halfpipe. The parallel […]

Seamus O’Connor speaking just after his run this morning.      

Coach Sam Wilkinson reaction:      

Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor had two great runs this morning in the Olympic Slopestyle Semi Final in Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. His best score of 70.25 placed him 9th of the 21 semi final athletes. See Seamus’s run here. American Sage Kotsenburg stormed to gold in the first-ever snowboard slopestyle event at the games in Sochi. […]

This evening Friday 7th February millions of people all over the world will be able to witness the XXII Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Team Ireland will be 29th in the parade of the 88 Nations taking part. Greece will enter first and the host Nation Russia will be last to enter the Fisht Stadium.   […]

Our President, Pat Hickey today took part in the “torch relay” in Sochi/Russia.   Pat Hickey was among 300 torchbearers who will run with the flame in Sochi on the lead up to the official Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games tomorrow 7th February.   Pat Hickey said ” As the Torch is  such […]

Ireland’s Sean Greenwood last night had two unofficial practice runs at the Olympic Sliding Centre. Greenwood who had track time last November said, “The track is now in much better condition since last year, the ice is world class. The bottom half of the track is where sliders will gain or lose places”. His New […]

Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor will compete in the slopestyle semi-finals on Saturday after finishing in 13th place in his heat at the opening event of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The 16-year-old snowboarder enjoyed a decent start to the games in his first run before improving with a score of 40.00 on his second run. That […]

Sochi’s first events have started with snowboarding, our athlete Seamus O’Connor was in action. Seamus has now got the qualification round out of the way.   See the offiical results at the following link http://www.sochi2014.com/en/snowboard-men-s-sbs-qualification   The opening ceremony will take place tomorrow 7th February.   Team Ireland were out an about on practice runs. […]

Sam Wilkinson coach to Seamus O’Connor brief interview yesterday during practice on OlympicIRL       SEAMUS O’CONNOR – SNOWBOARD HALF PIPE & SLOPESTYLE       Seamus, at age 16, is creating quite a stir in the snowboarding world since he declared for Ireland and set his eyes on the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. […]

SKIER CONOR LYNE TO BE IRISH FLAG BEARER AT WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY   The Olympic Council of Ireland has announced that the 21 year old downhill skier Conor Lyne will be Ireland’s flag bearer at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi on Friday on Feb 7th. Lyne said […]

Team Ireland’s Olympic Winter Competition timeline is included below. Start times will follow shortly when published.                         Seamus O’Connor Slope-style competition 6th February: qualification 10am – 4.40pm Slope-style 8th February competition 9.30am -11.10am and 12.45pm-1.55pm Half-pipe competition 11th February  2.00pm – 5.05pm and 7.00pm […]

Team Ireland are based in two of the Olympic Games Villages in Sochi, the Mountain Village MVL and the Endurance Village EVL. Athletes in the main indoor sports such as Curling, Ice Skating, Ice Hockey, and Speed Skating are situated in the Coastal Village. Official practice has started in many sports and first up today […]

Ireland’s Olympic Winter Games athletes arrived in Sochi this evening and are now in their accommodation in the Olympic Mountain Village and Endurance complex. The Olympic Council have secured the best possible apartments close to village transport and dining. Top winter sports nations such as Austria, Germany and the hosts Russia  will be their close […]

Ireland’s  Dr Marie-Elaine Grant’s has arrived in Sochi and will be playing a key role in the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission (Games Group), for the Sochi Games. Marie- Elaine is responsible for monitoring all physiotherapy activities and facilities at the three Olympic villages and all sport venues. Marie Elaine has on going responsibility for […]

Teenager Seamus O’Connor will become Ireland’s first-ever Olympic competitor in the snowboard halfpipe and slopestyle events in Sochi. Seamus, 16, was born into a diverse family – his mother is from Russia, his father grew up in England, and his grandparents are Irish. When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Sochi for the 2014 Olympic […]

Over 25,000 volunteers will make Sochi 2014 a great success, Team Ireland have 5 volunteers , pictured, and many more wanting o be part of our very compact team in Sochi. Here are some background links to the role , development and fantastic resource available to the Sochi Organising Committee and National Olympic Committees at […]

Five young snowsport athletes will represent Ireland at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games which commence in nine days time in Russia (Feb 7th).   Team Ireland is:   Florence Bell (women’s downhill slalom & giant slalom),   Conor Lyne (men’s downhill slalom & giant slalom),   Sean Greenwood (skeleton),   Jan Rossiter (skiing cross country) […]

This 90 seconds Olympics’ series gives you a quick-fire guide to everything you need to know about sports making their Olympic Games debuts   http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-292yfpAFGYFF0zNNjPCppnSu3f9ofmO  

In the winter of 2014, the sights of millions of people around the world will be fixed on Sochi, where the first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Russia’s history will take place. However, the most important aspect at the Games will be not the ultra-modern sports venues or the new records which we will […]

January 7, exactly one month before the start of Russia’s first ever Olympic Winter Games, the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee has announced the opening of the Main Media Center. The two-story Media Center has a total area of over 158,000 sq. m and is located in close proximity to the Olympic Park. While the Olympic […]

The first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924, included men’s cross-country skiing on 18 km and 50 km courses. A women’s 10 km cross-country ski competition first featured in the 1952 Games in Oslo, Norway. Soviet athlete Lyubov Baranova (Kozyreva) took first place in the 10 km race. Other distances and race formats […]

The Olympic Alpine competition consists of five events each for women and men. These include Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant, and Super Combined. The rules are the same for men and women, but the courses differ. Ten sets of medals altogether are awarded. Ireland currently have athletes such as Conor Lyne and Victoria and […]

Men’s and women’s snowboarding made their Olympic debuts at Nagano Games in 1998 with Alpine and freestyle competitions. The parallel giant slalom events appeared on the Salt Lake City Olympic program for the first time, replacing the two giant slalom events that were contested in Nagano. In half-pipe Ireland’s Seamus O’Connor is competing on the […]

Skeleton has twice been in the Olympic program, both times at its traditional home of St. Moritz, in 1928 and 1948. However, skeleton for both men and women has also been added to the 2002 Olympic program. Ireland’s Sean Greenwood is competing on the world skeleton circuit at present in an attempt to qualify for […]

The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has released its Official Spectator Guide for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. The guide, which is available at www.sochi2014.com/games/spectator/ and as a mobile app, will give fans access to a wealth of information about the Sochi Games including the official competition schedule, and practical advice about attending the Games this February. As well […]

During London 2012 Claire Bergin became the first female to represent Ireland at both the Summer and Winter Games. At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics she was part of Ireland’s women’s bobsleigh team. From Dublin, Claire is a chartered accountant, and was a key member of the 4x 400 Relay team that competed at the World Championships in […]

The Olympic Council of Ireland in collaboration with the Irish Institute of Sport will be holding a Science and Medical Conference in the Grand Hotel Malahide on the 6th-7th December 2013. This is part of a coordinated professional development programme for the 2013-16 Olympic Cycle. The 65 practitioners attending are actively involved in Olympic high […]

Global athletic brand New Balance has been named the official apparel and footwear sponsor of the Olympic Council of Ireland in a multi-year deal. This new sponsorship allows for New Balance to provide the Irish Olympic Team competing in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de […]

OCI Chief Executive Stephen Martin has been chosen by the Olympic Council of Ireland Executive Board to be Team Ireland’s Chef de Mission for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, to be held between 7th -23rd February next year.The double Olympic hockey medallist said “Its an honour and a privilege to lead the Irish Team […]

Important information for Sochi Games spectators – The Spectator Pass (registration card) is a document which should be presented together with a Games Ticket to allow a Ticket Holder to be granted an access to a Venue to attend the Session indicated on the Ticket. In order to attend the Sochi Games events and Olympic Park you need […]

Source: http://www.olympic.org   Clearly the olympic charter guarantees that participants can take part in the Games free of discrimination on grounds of race sex or sexuality. The IOC have received assurances from the very highest levels of overnment in Russia that the charter will be upheld and participants will not be affected by this law. […]

Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee was at the Olympic “Bolshoy” Ice Dome a celebratory event dedicated to one year to go before the Games took place, in which Russian President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov.     Video  from the ceremony you […]

Today marks the 1 year to go to Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics 2014.    The Games will run from 7th – 23rd February with more than 3000 athletes competing in seven sports and 15 disciplines.   The programme includes 12 new events, including women’s ski jumping and slope-style snowboarding and skiing.   Team Ireland expect to be […]

Work on the venues that will be used during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games is progressing well, with the Olympic Park on schedule for completion next year. During the 2014 Games, events will be focused around two different areas – a coastal cluster in Sochi consisting of the Olympic Park and ice venues, and […]

Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey led a very successful 40th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Sochi, Russia last week. Hickey, who has been president of the EOC since 2006, chaired the Assembly throughout the order of business including presenting the eagerly anticipated report on the feasibility of a European multi […]

Aoife Hoey, Claire Bergin, Pat Shannon and Chef de Mission Siobhan Hoey returned to Dublin this afternoon after their amazing Olympic Games experience in Canada.

After 17 days of thrilling athletic competitions the Vancouver Organizing Committee have produced initial statistics showing the extent and impact of hosting the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Ireland for its part sent a team of 6 athletes in four disciplines, based in Whistler and raised the profile and performance levels of Irish Winter sport during the Games.

Ireland’s Shane O’Connor improved to 45th despite a slower second run in the men’s slalom at Whistler Creek last night. The Malahide man was 51st after a first run of 60.83 seconds in testing conditions and clocked 64.31 secs later in the evening.

Ireland's Kirsty McGarry finished 50th in the women's giant slalom at a foggy Whistler Creekside this evening. McGarry was 50th out of the 85-strong original field heading into this evening's action and clocked one minute, 24.28 seconds for a final combined time of 2mins, 45.20secs.

The Olympic Council of Ireland has announced that Malahide, Co Dublin, downhill skier Shane O'Connor has been chosen to carry the Irish flag at the closing ceremonies of the hugely successful Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on Sunday next (Feb 28th).

The Ireland women's bobsleigh team finished 17th at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, winning their personal duel with Australia in the process.

Ireland’s Kirsty McGarry will have to wail until later today to complete the Giant Slalom after dense fog led to the postponement of the second run last night.

Ireland lie in 20th position after the first two heats of the Women's Bobsleigh at the Winter Vancouver Games.

Kirsty McGarry will compete today in the Giant Slalom event in Whistler. McGarry's Olympics begin with the Giant Slalom, 24th February, with her first run approximately 6pm Irish time with her second run at around 9pm ( racing starts at 5pm). McGarry is bib 61.

Ireland slalom skiers Kirsty McGarry and Shane O'Connor have been training under the supervision of coaches Ken Ellis and Colin Gaffney.

Shane O'Connor gives an insight into the days before the big race and talks through his practice runs.

Ireland's womens bobsleigh team will compete in a 21 team event at 17.00 Canadian time, February 23rd at the Whistler sliding centre. The team complete two runs on the evening of the 23rd, followed by two runs on the 24th.

Pat Shannon finished an excellent 25th in the men's skeleton event in his first Olympic Games after a great run in heat 3.

Boosted by a series of fan blogs and Facebook sites, many linked to hundreds of messages of congratulations and support from Irish people all over the world, Ireland's women's bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin, along with alternate brakewoman Leona Byrne, are getting ready for the races of a lifetime at the Whistler Sliding Track next week (Feb 23 and 24).

Pat Shannon finished an excellent 25th in the men's skeleton event in his first Olympic Games after a great run in heat 3.

Ireland's Pat Shannon sits in 27th place after his first two runs in the men's skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

PJ Barron reflects on his first Olympic Games, having competed in 15km cross country event in Whistler. Its an event that is highly technical and endurance based. Barron is a 21 year student. Most athletes reach their prime in their late twenties, early thirties.

Ireland's male slalom skier at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Shane O'Connor, from Malahide produced a top 50 place in a World Championship race in qualifying , the best ever placing by an Irish skier in a major Championship. O'Connor has been in Vancouver training with his coach Colin Gaffney, and we asked him to comment on his experiences so far:

Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland met athletes and performance support staff in Whistler at the official welcome ceremony for the Irish delegation.

Pat Shannon's Olympic skeleton campaign gets underway at Whistler Sliding Centre tomorrow, Thursday 18th February, 18.30pm (Canadian time). He was caught in action by William Cherry , Presseye, accredited Irish Media at the 2010 Games.

P. J. Barron competed in the 15km cross country skiing event in Vancouver yesterday, eventually finishing in 91st position.

Irish Winter Olympic Team athletes and performance support team officials entered the Olympic Opening Ceremony to a fantastic welcome from the host nation spectators. Bobsleigher Aoife Hoey carried her National Flag with pride. Chef de Mission Siobhan Hoey led in the performance team support.Wearing official sponsored team clothing supplied by Columbia Sport they paraded in style.

After five hours of intensive legal argument, involving senior legal counsel from Dublin and Sydney, followed by 24 hours of consideration of the Australian claim for a place in the Women’s Bobsleigh competition, the three independent judges of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), have announced their decision.

The Flag Raising Ceremony is the official welcome to the Irish Team into the Olympic Village. Pat Hickey, President, Olympic Council of Ireland, Siobhain Hoey, Chef de Mission, athletes, officials and invited guests attended.

The Olympic Council of Ireland has chosen Aoife Hoey (25) from Portarlington to lead the Irish team into the Olympic stadium in Vancouver on Friday next (Feb 12th).

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will announce their decision on the Australian Olympic Committee appeal this evening 8pm Irish Time, Tuesday 9th February.

Aiofe Hoey, Claire Bergin and Pat Shannon arrived in Vancouver on the 31st January for a 4 day practice session at the Whistler Sliding Centre, 1st-4th February.

The Olympic Council of Ireland today (Jan 27) announced the full line up of the Irish Winter Olympic team scheduled to compete at next month’s Games in Vancouver.

Ireland's prospects of qualifying in women's bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, are on track, enhanced by their inclusion in the final four races in the 2009/10 World Cup series.

The final countdown to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February began in earnest today with the lighting of the Olympic Flame in a traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece.

IOC Olympic Review article on Aoife Hoey who is benefiting from an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship in the run-up to the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Ireland's Vancouver 2010 winter athletes were in Olympic House yesterday to discuss a range of issues in preparation for the incoming 2009/10 season. The Olympic Council of Ireland have provided athlete scholarships to assist athletes with their qualification programmes.

Athletes in contention for places in Team Ireland, Pat Shannon, Aoife Hoey, Paul Griffin attended the official signing of the IOC's invitation to participate in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 12th – 28th February 2010.

Vancouver 2010During his visit to Vancouver and Whistler last week for the one-year-to-go celebrations, IOC President Jacques Rogge had the opportunity to see first-hand a number of the venues that will be used during the Vancouver 2010 Games. Rogge was able to visit the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler, the Whistler Olympic Park, the Whistler Sliding Centre, the Richmond Olympic Oval, Cypress Mountain, the International Broadcast Centre and the Vancouver Olympic Centre.

Delegates at the conclusion of the 2010 Chef's de Mission Seminar were impressed by VANOC's organisation to date in preparing the necessary environment for a successful Winter Games next year.

Olympic delegations attending the 2010 Chef de Mission Seminar traveled into superb mountain locations to view the Whistler Olympic Village, Sliding Centre, Olympic Park, and Creekside venues.

The 2010 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be held indoor for the first time, at the BC Indoor Arena in Vancouver. Whilst temperatures outside will be approximately 7 degrees, the indoor temperature will be set at 18 degrees for the ceremonies.

72 of the expected 80 NOC's that will take part in the Vancouver Winter Games next year completed their second day of presentations, meetings and venue tours.

When John Furlong arrived in Canada more than thirty years ago from Ireland, a customs officer at the airport offered a warm but specific greeting: “Welcome to Canada – make us better.” Furlong took those inspired words to heart and within days, he was volunteering, making a contribution, doing what he felt we should all do – giving a little.

On the 12 February 2009, Vancouver 2010 will celebrate one year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the XXI Winter Games. This significant date is being marked in Vancouver by a number of important events including the 2010 Chef de Mission Seminar to be held next week 16th- 22nd February.

Whilst Irish athletes in the sports of Womens 2x Bobsleigh, Cross Country Skiing and Skier Cross events pursue their qualification aspirations around Europe, the organisers of the Vancouver Games are getting ready to mark the one year to go mark.

Following the conclusion of the Winter Olympic Games in Torino the Olympic Council of Ireland conducted a debrief with those individuals and National Federations involved with the organisation and support of the team.

The Paralympic flame has been lit under the Arch of Constantine, in the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. The flame was ignited at the coming together of three symbolic figures: a winner at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games, a current athlete with a disability and a young person with a disability.

As the 2006 Irish Winter Olympic team members depart to all corners of Europe, the entire squad and the team management wish to express their sincere thanks for the many expressions of good wishes and congratulations which flowed into the Irish team headquarters in Turin and into the Olympic Council offices in Dublin during the Games.

Kirsty McGarry is lying in 42nd position after this morning's first run in the women’s Giant Slalom on the Sises course in Sestriere. She is 7.30 seconds down on the current leader Julia Mancuso of the USA.

Ireland’s cross country skier Rory Morrish from Cork will be the Irish flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday Feb 26th. Rory will lead the small but successful Irish squad into the Olympic Stadium in Turin after an Olympics full of promise for the future of winter sports in Ireland.

Kirsty McGarry, Ireland's female alpine skiier, finished just outside the top 30, but in the top half of the field, in the women's giant slalom which concluded this afternoon.

Kirsty McGarry finished in 42nd position after her 2nd Run in the Women's slalom event, which was held yesterday evening under lights. Her aggregate time of 1:42.43 was 13.39 seconds behind Anjan Paerson of Sweden who managed to retain her 1st position from the afternoon run.

Kirsty McGarry is in 48th position after this afternoon's first run in the Women's Slalom Competition. She is 7.26 seconds down on the current leader Anja Paerson of Sweden.

On the eleventh day of competition, four titles are up for grabs: Men’s 1500m Speed Skating, the large hill/7.5km Nordic Combined, Men’s 4 x 7.5 km Biathlon relay, Women’s Bobsleigh. Also scheduled are the Curling tie-breakers, the postponed qualifying rounds for women’s Freestyle Aerials, and Figure Skating.

In challenging weather conditions at the men's Alpine skiing giant slalom on Monday, Ireland’s Thomas Foley delivered a heroic performance to finish 31st position out of 82 starters.

Thos Foley has finished 31st of 82 starters in today's Giant Slalom event in Sestriere. Thos who improved on his 35th position from this morning's run finished with an aggregate time of 2:57.42, 22.42 seconds down on event Winner Benjamin Raich of Austria. The race was held on the Sise course in Sestriere which has a vertical drop of 450 metres.

David Connolly finished 20th overall after his two runs in the Skeleton event on Friday evening. David was in a solid 21st position after the 1st run and pulled out all the stops to improve his standing on the 2nd and final run.

Rory Morrish, Ireland's sole competitor in the 15km Classic Cross Country event has unoffically finished 88th in one of the toughest events on the Winter Olympic programmes.

Ireland’s Kirsty McGarry is almost certain to give the Ladies Super G event on Sunday next (Feb 19 at 12 noon) a miss in order to concentrate on the Ladies Slalom events scheduled for Feb 22nd and 24th.

“It will be the proudest moment of my life”, says Kirsty. The Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games will take place in the Olympic Stadium (former home of Juventus FC), Turin, on Friday next February 10th and the honour of being Ireland’s flag bearer and leading the Irish team into the Olympic Stadium in the Parade of |Nations goes to downhill skier Kirsty McGarry (age 20) from Dalkey, Co. Dublin.

The qualification of Wicklow’s David Connolly in an Olympic qualifying event in Konigsee, Germany earlier this week completes the Irish team line-up for next months Winter Olympics in Turin. However, there is a very slim possibility that the Hoey sisters may yet get a place in the Womens Bobsleigh event and final news is expected on this by Monday next (Jan 30).