Ireland’s ability to compete on the international sporting stage will be “destroyed” if the Government proceeds with plans to ban alcohol companies from sponsoring major sporting events.

Minister of state Michael Ring has defended his claim that spending money on sport is “better than putting it into hospitals” and medical staff.

Sports Minister Michael Ring has denied the Government is to blame for the mess surrounding the failure to mount a major welcome home event for victorious Olympians.

An investigation has been launched into an alleged betting scandal involving a member of the Irish Olympic team.

The controversy surrounding the Irish women’s 4x400m relay team may yet run through until next Monday – four days before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony – after confirmation yesterday of the details surrounding Catriona Cuddihy’s appeal.

The Irish Olympic team has a new member with Maria McCambridge securing qualification for the London Games at the Rome Marathon yesterday.

TODAY’S professional rugby players will have to accept shorter careers or face serious, life-lasting injuries after they retire.

I RETURNED recently from Beijing where I had the privilege of representing Ireland in rowing for my third Olympic Games.

Team Ireland received a rapturous reception after returning home from the 2008 Olympics via Dublin Airport today.

Three further athletes - 400 metres hurdler Michelle Carey, marathon runner Pauline Curley and 800 metres specialist Thomas Chamney - have today been added to the Irish Olympic team for next month's Games in Beijing.

THE Irish Curling Association was formally admitted to the Olympic Council of Ireland last night.

PAT HICKEY, Olympic Council of Ireland president, has admitted that Ireland’s name has ‘a bad name’ internationally due the drug scandals that have tainted medals won at two of the last three Games.

A LONG-DISTANCE swimmer who had been preparing for up to a year for a record-breaking swim from Ireland to Wales this week is instead suffering heartache.

An Irish Olympic rower is making his final preparations for an epic journey across 3,000 miles of open seas in a bid to become the fastest man to row across the Atlantic.

DAVID McCANN and Paul Griffin, team mates with the Giant Asia professional team, are the men likely to dictate Credit Union Rás Mumhan in Kerry over the weekend, but they won’t have it their own way when they join forces on the Earl of Desmond team.

Gold medal winner Cian O’Connor leads the homecoming today for a 39-strong Irish Olympic team.

Ireland’s Olympic star Cian O’Connor is today facing a hero’s welcome when he returns home with his gold medal – and a state reception.

Just 24 hours after celebrating his 27th birthday, three-day eventer Niall Griffin will lead the Irish Olympic team in Friday's eagerly-awaited opening ceremony for the 2004 Games.

Irish distance runner Cathal Lombard has been provisionally suspended and is set to receive a two-year ban following his admission he took banned substance EPO.

The Irish Olympic athlete found guilty of drug offences vowed tonight to help in the fight against doping in sport.

A LEADING Irish sports psychologist yesterday rejected Cathal Lombard’s claim that he took the performance-enhancing drug EPO merely to compete on a level playing field and not to boost his medal chances.

Irish distance runner Cathal Lombard will explain to officials tomorrow why he has tested positive for the banned drug EPO.

Eddie Cassidy

The Olympic Council of Ireland today announced a cut-size Irish Olympic team to travel to the Athens Olympics next month.

Food store Londis is to be one of the six main sponsors of the Irish Olympic Team in 2004.