Parents finally get their due at the finish line

Athletes never forget the force behind them, says Conall Ó Fátharta

IF any of the 65 Irish competitors at the Olympic Ceremony are lucky enough to have a medal placed around their necks in the next three weeks, virtually all will look to the stands for one group of people — their parents.

Virtually every sporting event that captures the public imagination has had those unforgettable moments, when a mother or father is embraced by their child after reaching the pinnacle of their sporting careers.