Quality, not quantity for Athens, pledge Olympic chiefs

IRELAND will send one its smallest ever team of Olympians to Athens next year — but chef de mission Willie O’Brien yesterday insisted it will be the best-prepared.

Almost 70 athletes travelled to Sydney three years ago, but the 2004 squad could consist of just 54 competitors, according to Mr O'Brien, who has been handed the responsibility of making sure that everything is in order and athletes can focus on their events.

"So far 33 competitors have qualified eight of them from athletics and as I see it we could be taking a team of about 54 to Athens," he said.