Athletics: ISC review of Olympic performance to be released

The Irish Sports Council's eagerly awaited review of Ireland's Olympic performance will be released later today.

The Sydney Review Group is expected to strongly criticise the Olympic Council of Ireland and will also offer recommendations to ensure that the Irish display down under will not be repeated in Athens in 2004.

The Irish Sports Council and the Minister for Sport, Dr Jim McDaid have been heavily involved in putting the document together.

With many Irish athletes allegedly unhappy in Sydney, every track and field competitor performed well below par, with the notable exception of Sonia O'Sullivan.

The review comes just nine days before the election of a new Olympic Council of Ireland president.

Pat Hickey currently holds the position, but he faces strong competition from Richard Burrowes - who has been put forward by the Irish Sailing Association.

The review itself has been almost four months in the making and should make for very interesting reading.