Belief Irish athletes will train full-time in Ireland a ‘fallacy’

SEAN KELLY has dismissed as a “fallacy” the notion that the recent upsurge in sports funding and facilities will mean that all Irish athletes will soon train full-time in this country.

“The opportunities are being developed here for athletes to stay at home if they want to. However, there is a perception out there that all our athletes will be able to stay here to train full-time. That is a complete fallacy,” said the executive chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport.

“While we are certainly hopeful that, with more facilities, more of our athletes will be able to choose to prepare here, there will always be a need for them to go abroad.”