New ball game as Olympic chief eyes other sports’ starlets

IRISH Olympic bosses are considering a radical new plan to work with sports like the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI in an effort to develop new talent.

Olympic Council of Ireland chief executive Dr Stephen Martin revealed his organisation are keen to find and nurture athletes from grassroots sports in their quest to develop more Olympians.

Ireland will be represented by 49 competitors in 12 sports — athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming and triathlon — in Beijing next month.