GARY OWENS, who masterminded the Strategic Plan for athletics, has agreed to act as the independent chairman of the new AAI Board for the next two years, to oversee the implementation of the integration process.

THERE could yet be an IAAF licence for the whole island of Ireland, despite the refusal by the Executive of the Athletics Association of Ireland to allow the issue on to the agenda for the last Annual Congress, where it would have met with overwhelming support from the grassroots membership.

MARK CARROLL will welcome the news that the AAI have decided to try to persuade the Olympic Council of Ireland to abandon their July 3 deadline for Olympic qualification.

ALTHOUGH efforts to get the issue on the agenda failed, athletics unity and the prospect of one licence for all of Ireland will be mentioned at the second annual Congress of Athletics Ireland this weekend in Donegal.