Last minute dash for Olympics fans

IRISH sports fans are adding a new event to the Olympic programme — the last minute dash.

With the Athens games beginning a month from today, a relatively small number of supporters have booked all-in package trips through the officially designated travel agent.

However, the word around the track is that many others are making their own way to Greece through a combination of 11th hour flights, cancellation tickets and late accommodation deals, and at least 5,000 are expected to fly the flag for the 48 Irish competitors.