Government not to blame, insists minister

Sports Minister Michael Ring has denied the Government is to blame for the mess surrounding the failure to mount a major welcome home event for victorious Olympians.

Mr Ring insisted his department was ready to part fund such a public celebration, but lack of communication among organisers and athletes has scuppered the idea.

“We had to respect the wishes of the athletes and the wish of the athletes is that they don’t want a homecoming and I respect that.

“It is unfair on the athletes, they should have been consulted first. The situation was that if they were agreeable to it, then the arrangements should have been put in place. It looks like the athletes were consulted after they made a decision that they don’t want a homecoming and I have to accept that.

“I would love to see the homecoming. We have had a great two weeks of sport, it is the best Olympics we’ve had since 1956, and I know that people want to express their excitement and would like to see our athletes.

“They did the country proud, it has been a great occasion for the country. The country was delighted with the amount of medals that we won, everybody gave of their best and I don’t want to see this spoiled by a row over a homecoming because I think it has been a great occasion for the country,” he told RTÉ.

Mr Ring said getting money earmarked for sport was difficult in the current economic environment.

“I had to go in and fight for the funding for sport. For the Sports Council this year I secured €44.5m.

“I will have to go back in and fight my case for funding — as will health, education and every other department. When you are fighting against education and health, we all have a battle — what people have to remember is that this country is in a very serious economic situation,” he said.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said while he wanted to develop Irish sport ahead of Rio 2016 he could not make false promises about sports funding, but said the Government would be keen to provide a reception for the Irish Olympic Team at Farmleigh in the coming days.

President Michael D Higgins also praised the spirit of the Irish Olympians.