OCI Chief Executive Stephen Martin said, “It is all about improving the competitiveness of the Olympic Winter Games, rather than artificially getting as many countries as possible involved.
As such, the new programme targets athletes who have a proven winter sports record and who have taken part in international competitions.
The OCI’s contribution to Winter athletes in this Olympic cycle equates to 5 individual scholarships for bobsleigh, cross country, alpine, and skeleton. In addition Irish Curling also recieved the Winter team sport grant, competing in the European A division, just failing to qualify for Vancouver.”
In total, 325 athletes from 60 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are benefitting from this customised support scheme which, since its launch in November 2008, has been aiming to become as successful as it has already been at the summer Olympic Games.
Olympic Solidarity is an IOC organisation and the body that ensures that athletes with talent, regardless of their financial status, have an even chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena. It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ (NOCs) share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games. Working in particular with the most needy NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.
Profile: Pat Shannon:
Born: 10-04-1977
From: Alcamon, New Ross, Co. Wexford
Represented Ireland: International Skeleton circuit 2004-2009.
Former Irish National Triple Jump Champion
Trains in Ireland and Germany:
Morton Stadium, Santry, Dublin ; Athletics Track, weight training facility and Indoor flat , dry sled push facility.
Konigssee Germany ; Bobsleigh track , Ice, sloped push track , athletics track and weight training facility.
