Hickey: Olympics is just for ‘A’ team

THE Olympic Council of Ireland has moved quickly to dispel suggestions they will accept ‘B’ standard athletes for next year’s London Olympics.

In a statement issued yesterday, the OCI confirmed that only athletes achieving ‘A’ standards will be selected for the 2012 Games.

OCI president Pat Hickey insisted: “As previously announced, the OCI has a binding and mutually agreed contract with the athletics federation, AAI, to solely select ‘A’ standard athletes for London and this will not change in any way, shape or form We are both absolutely and totally committed to ‘A’ standards only. Our chef de mission for London, Sonia O’Sullivan, is fully behind this approach and the new high performance director for athletics, Kevin Ankrom, is also in full agreement. We are all working closely together to ensure that Ireland has a strong team of the best ‘A’ track and field athletes in the nation representing us in London.”