On a day that celebrated the past, it was hard not to look to the future. Yesterday’s National Athletics Awards in Blanchardstown may have brought together many current and former greats, but it wasn’t a nostalgic reflection that left a strong sense of optimism.

Italian Alessandro Tonelli claimed the overall lead in the Tour of Britain despite losing a sprint finish to Australian Cameron Mayer on the second stage.

Tori Bowie was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Michaela Walsh guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, yesterday.

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya will have to take medication to lower her testosterone levels or move up to longer distances as a result of new rules announced today.

Participating in sport is generally seen as a good thing for society. It has health benefits, both physical and mental. It can be a sociable activity promoting a sense of belonging, identity and inclusion, says Jack Anderson.

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya will have to take medication to lower her testosterone levels or move up to longer distances as a result of new rules which will be announced on Thursday, it's understood.

"They broke the doors down for Irish gymnastics but now I want to break down doors further down the chain, and go to the Olympics to make finals and win medals."

Being selected as the official flag-bearer for Team NI at today’s Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was richly deserved recognition for outstanding dual sportswoman Caroline O’Hanlon.

AS Ireland’s Grand Slam celebrations began at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day, Na Piarsaigh and Cuala played out a thrilling draw in the All-Ireland Club hurling final at Croke Park.

Following the cancellation of the Irish women’s series against Scotland in midweek, Cork Harlequins hope to have a quintet of internationals back for the visit of Hermes-Monkstown in the EY Hockey League.

They stayed in their lanes, didn’t get disqualified, and at an event that threatened to descend into farce at one point, there’s something to be said for that.

The success or failure of the Irish team at the World Indoor Championships was always going to be decided by one athlete, and given Phil Healy managed something no Irish athlete had done since 2010, it felt a lot like the former at the close of play in Birmingham last night.

After a year of fraught relations with the North, the South saw the Winter Olympics as a chance to show itself to the world as a stable democracy safe for investment, says Andrew Hammond

Amy Foster has equalled the Irish indoor 60m record to qualify for March’s World Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham, writes Will Downing.

The Minister for Transport has said he will consider supporting a bid for Northern Ireland to host the Commonwealth Games.

If Steven Donnelly reflects the opinion of the rest of Ireland’s Olympic boxers, the Michael O’Reilly affair has had no more impact than the punches of the Algerian he beat yesterday.

Paddy Barnes believes fears surrounding the zika virus are overblown as the two-time Olympic medallist prepares for his third Games in Rio this summer.

Nicolas Roche is the new national time-trial champion after storming to a fantastic win in Kilcullen, Co Kildare last night.

Helen O’Callaghan looks at a successful therapy programme that encourages parents to be understanding and compassionate about their child’s eating disorder.

Irish Olympic hopeful Oliver Dingley expressed pride ‘hearing the Irish anthem’ as he collected gold at the Irish Open Diving championships in the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, yesterday.

Oliver Dingley had dreamed of winning a medal at a major diving event for 14 years before he earned the right to stand on the podium at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the summer of 2014.

Olympic bronze medallist Michael Conlan admits adjusting from five rounds to three at the European Elite Championships in Bulgaria was difficult.

Blind Irish adventurer Mark Pollock — who was left paralysed when he fell 25ft from a bedroom window while staying with friends in England — has won his battle for damages in the High Court in London.

SCOTLAND: A mascot from the first Commonwealth Games held in Scotland almost half a century ago has been uncovered.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor is convinced her best is yet to come as she prepares to lead Ireland into the inaugural European Games in Baku next month.

Madeline Perry is Ireland’s most successful squash player. Still ranked 18 in the world, she retires from the world tour after today’s Irish Open 2015 final against Nicolette Fernandes at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club at 3pm.

A 23-year-old sprinter training for the Commonwealth Games has become an internet sensation after dropping everything to become a legal guardian to his estranged, pregnant cousin who had been living rough on the streets.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia has reflected on a “year of joy and sorrow” for the city in his new year message.

It's the social media sensation that presidents, taosigh, astronauts, sportstars and even grannies couldn't resist, says Kelly O'Brien

Commonwealth boxing champion Paddy Barnes has been awarded an MBE for services to boxing and the community in Northern Ireland.

A certain sportswear company once had a motivational slogan which simply said — ‘You Either Ran Today or You Didn’t’.

Lewis Hamilton pulled off an emphatic BBC Sports Personality of the Year triumph that surprised even himself.

Ulster’s hockey clubs are reportedly investigating the viability of forming a breakaway Northern Ireland Hockey Association.

She doesn’t hold back outside the ring either.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh posted landslide last-32 victories at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in Jeju, South Korea yesterday.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor opens her title defence at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in Jeju, South Korea against Dominica’s Valerian Spicer today.

Photobomb, Tinder, normcore and bakeoff - the English language is a beautiful thing.

Adventurer unbowed despite blindness and paralysis, says Suzanne Harrington

“I believe going to the next Olympic Games that I’m well capable of a gold medal there.”

Alex Salmond has dramatically fallen on his sword after Scotland voted decisively to reject his dream of independence and to remain part of the United Kingdom