Star Sonia pleads for unity

SONIA O’SULLIVAN, silver medallist at the 2000 Olympics, said yesterday it was time for all the sports bodies in Ireland to put their differences aside and get down to the business of planning for the 2012 London Games.

O’Sullivan, now a member of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said: “This is our big chance – our big opportunity. This time we don’t have issues with weather, climate, travel and things like that so it should all be very simple. But it’s only three years away.

“You would certainly need to get moving on the planning because next year you would want to be making a mark for the Olympics and the following year is all about preparations, so really now is the time to put down the foundation. As well as that if you were to get injured or anything like that, at least you would know that you have the groundwork done.”