WITH his bronze medal already secure, John Joe Nevin will go into this afternoon’s (3.30pm) clash with Eduard Abzalimov of Russia bidding for a place in tomorrow’s bantamweight final.

IRISH boxing officials remain confident that at least one more fighter will secure a spot at this summer’s Olympic Games when they contest the final qualifier for European boxers in Athens next month.

THE Irish boxers at the World Championships in Chicago have all been issued with new iPods and will be able to watch some of their best performances to the background of their favourite music as part of their preparations.

Lucozade Sport has agreed a new product sponsorship deal with Tipperary GAA.

MICHAEL QUINLAN, one of the longest serving members of the executive of the Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI), could become a casualty of the new structure that has been put in place to govern the sport when the chairs of the new committees are elected at next weekend’s annual congress in Limerick Junction.

Lucozade Sport has taken the positive step of extending sponsorship of Munster Rugby until 2008.

DEHYDRATION among jockeys has become a major problem in Irish racing and random testing may have to be introduced to combat it.

A child born in Galway in January has a better chance of becoming a top sportsman or woman than someone born in Dublin later in the year, it emerged today.

IRISH children aspiring to become top performers in sport are more likely to be born early in the year and come from rural areas or smaller towns.

THE Director of the National Coaching and Training Centre, Dr Pat Duffy, is to leave the post later this year.

THE Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI) last night agreed that the democratic nature of the organisation will be preserved no matter what changes take place with the implementation of the long-awaited strategic plan.

ONCE soup and sandwiches awaited inter-county footballers after training sessions. Now it’s more likely pasta and bananas. Mark Gallagher explores the roles of dieticians in the world of the GAA.

BRIAN KERR and Eddie O’Sullivan joined forces in Dublin to call on national coaches to implement long-term coaching strategies in this country.

THE Olympic Council of Ireland may extend their qualification deadlines for the Athens Games, according to OCI President Pat Hickey.

KILKENNY’S sights may be on an historic double treble of league and All-Ireland success this year but the county is already busy laying the foundations for its continued dominance in the years to come.

WINNING managers swear by it. Teams shocked in the league by lowly neighbours use it as an excuse. And recently retired players shudder at the thought of it.

EXPERT advice from an Australian sports academy — one of the most advanced in the world was sought in the preparation of a new education programme now available to Irish sporting organisations.

IRELAND will send one its smallest ever team of Olympians to Athens next year — but chef de mission Willie O’Brien yesterday insisted it will be the best-prepared.

THERE is no physical reason why Sonia O’Sullivan should not go to next year’s Olympic Games in Athens as a medal contender according to the world’s leading expert in long term player/athlete development.

THE Team Ireland Golf Trust Lunch and National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC) workshops were held yesterday in Dublin and in attendance were the trust golfers, along with Irish Sports Council CEO John Treacy and members of the Team Ireland Golf Trust committee.

MARK CARROLL, laid low with an injury sustained while training at altitude for the Boston Marathon, will miss this year’s track season — including the world championships in Paris — with a planned return to competitive athletics in another marathon a the end of the year.

TEACHERS with coaching qualifications should be paid if they coach pupils or students after school hours, according to former world champion Eamonn Coghlan.