Patrick O’Donovan admits Government must change approach

Good, but could do better. If Ireland’s performance at last year’s Olympic Games were a report card it would read as exactly that.

On the one hand, Rio delivered more top 10 and top 20 finishes than ever before. On the other, Team Ireland only brought back two medals. That’s one less than the stated target, although Paralympics Ireland exceeded their ambition for eight with 11.

The reasons for the mixed Olympic vibes are many and varied and the Rio Review that stretches to over 200 pages laid a lot of them out while undoubtedly failing to delve into others. Such is the way of these things but it is what it is.