Flame not gone out for Ward yet

The bid to rekindle Joe Ward’s Olympic flame is far from over after IABA officials spent yesterday in Trabzon winning support to get the Moate teenager to London 2012.

The President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Pat Hickey, will look at the interpretation of the relevant rule that allows “weaker” countries or Federations to put forward unqualified athletes for entry into the Games.

What qualifies a nation as “weaker”, however, is under scrutiny. Ward would tick all the other boxes — he has gone through the qualifying tournaments, is currently ranked among the top three light heavyweights in the world and there is a vacancy available at that weight.