Team Ireland produced its best results since the Melbourne Games in 1956. Many agencies are involved behind the scenes all trying to assist the National Federations , there athletes and support staff in their quest to be the best they can at European , World and Olympic Level. Ireland finished in the top 41 of 204 Nations who competed in the London Games.
Each has a distinctive role to play, and through the London Technical Group the Olympic Council , the Institutes of Sport, and the Sports Councils have worked under the radar to provide the best possible support over the past 4 years.
In short: ISC: funding and management for high performance plans and athlete carding system, IIS: management of science, medical, coaching and athlete support programmes, and OCI: operational planning and management of the team for Olympic Competition.
Whilst the Olympic Council have the responsibility in this area for summer games , it also has the responsibility during this four year cycle to manage european youth olympics , world youth games, and a winter games. The preparation for each includes many aspects. For London this included some of the following key areas:
The Long List data capture of Athletes & Support Personnel likeley to be part of the Olympic Team: sizing, photographs, performance data, and accreditation details
Olympic qualification agreements for the London Games
Team Members Agreements for Olympic Competition
Duties & Descriptions/ roles and responsibilities for Team Support Personnel
Team Seminars, conferences, media recces, training camp recces
Open and transparent communication across all sports agencies
Team building and development of an Olympic team spirit
Establishing excellent relations with LOCOG
Involvement in LOCOG Test events 2011/12
Identification and policies in place to cope with key pressure points
Team app innovation with a specialised private Olympic section pre, during and post games advice
Establishment of Pre Games training camps in London, Broxbourne and Weymouth
Assembling the Team Handbook and Olympic Games Team Website
Working with our sponsors to raise the profile of Olympic athletes through their activation programmes
Supporting the Olympic documentaries
Management of a Team and individual athlete scholarships
Priority list of performance support using exchangeable transfers to maximize accreditations
Visits before games: Chef de Mission Seminars/ Media & Medical visits/team leader, support staff, athlete commission visits
Ensuring the best possible Clothing , ceremony, village, training and performance gear
Establishing a Clothing distribution plan
Launching of ASICS Clothing
Announcement of Olympic Team (Main Event & Preliminary)
Expectation management
Pre Delegation Registration meetings with LOCOG & team registration July 2012
Flight Scheduling
External Accommodation in London, Weymouth, Broxbourne
Team Arrivals policy
Team Departure and Return policy
Communications at the Games (Phones / Radios / Computers, social media operational plan)
Internal/External transportation and general Games time transport policy
Village Office, Performance Medicine support and Press set up
Medical Equipment for training bases and villages
Liaison with LOCOG polyclinic
Medical Information (documentation required)
Anti-Doping issues + TUE’s and athlete whereabouts administration
Olympic Villages accommodation set up
Creating a positive performance environment
Additional apartments London, Weymouth, Broxbourne for non accredited performance support expertise (psychology/nutrition/metoerology, personal coaches)
Managing the VIP Visits and Protocol for visits at Games time
Athlete family and friend tickets and distribution
During the Games management support on performance, medical and media issues to ensure focus on performance
Putting the athlete first
London provided great inspiration for our young athletes and is another important milestone in the development of a world class system for our summer and winter youth Olympians and Olympians.
Next up the summer and winter European Youth Olympics (2013 and 2015), World Youth Olympics (2014) , the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and of course Rio 2016.
