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.

Both of Ireland's swimming representatives have decided to act on national coach Ger Doyle's advice and concentrate on one single event each at the Athens Games.

ATHENS-bound Emma Robinson will be the star attraction as the Irish Open swimming championships get underway today in Lisburn.

TEAM IRELAND swimmer Michael Williamson joined Emma Robinson in achieving the “A” qualifying time for the Olympics when he swam at the British Trials yesterday.

Andrew Bree set two new Irish swimming records on the opening day of the European Short-course Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin yesterday.

Swim Ireland's only realistic hope of progress for a semi-final berth this weekend at the World Championships in Barcelona faded as Portstewart's Emma Robinson bowed out at the preliminary stages of the 50m Breaststroke this morning.

Ireland's Chantal Gibney has failed to qualify for the finals of the 200m freestyle at the Swimming World Championships in Japan.