Govt accused of scuppering athletics bid

Athletics Ireland has accused Sports Minister John O’Donoghue of scuppering its bid to host the 2005 European Cross-Country Championships.

The body was seeking a government grant of €300,000 to stage the event, but was offered only €54,000. The event in full would have cost €650,000 to stage.

Athletics Ireland wanted to host the competition at Cork Racecourse, but it withdrew from the bidding yesterday, saying the viability of its plans were dependent on generous government funding.