JOANNE CUDDIHY has been given the all-clear to compete in the women’s 400m at the Olympic Games and gets her campaign underway on Saturday morning (5.10am Irish time).

EILEEN O’KEEFFE has eased fears over her knee injury, throwing 5kg and 7kg hammers at the Irish training camp in Matsue, according to Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle.

David Gillick got his first taste of the Olympics when the Irish athletics team landed at Beijing Capital Airport on Saturday, greeted by smiling volunteers and some eager local journalists.

“DON’T write Derval O’Rourke off,” was the clear message from world renowned sports injury therapist, Gerard Hartmann, as the former world indoor hurdles champion packed her bags for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

There is real concern in the Irish athletics camp over Eileen O'Keeffe's knee injury - the Kilkenny hammer thrower admitted today that she faces 'a battle for time' to be fit for her first Olympics.

ALISTAIR CRAGG is Ireland’s latest Olympic injury concern.

THERE was further concern for Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle, on the eve of the Olympic team’s departure for the pre-Olympic training camp in Matsue when middle distance runner, Alistair Cragg, pulled out of the 3,000m race at the Super Grand Prix in Monte Carlo last night.

JAMIE COSTIN, on his comeback, and Colin Griffin, on his debut, both failed to finish the 50k walk at the world championships in Osaka on Saturday.

A SQUAD that is young enough to form the nucleus of Ireland’s Olympic team for London 2012 will represent Ireland at the IAAF world championships in Osaka in two weeks.