‘World-class’ O’Sullivan and O’Dwyer major grant winners

IRISH Sports Council chiefs were again forced to defend their High Performance Grant scheme at yesterday’s announcement of the 2006 allocations.

Last year the decision not to provide funding under new stricter criteria for high-profile athletes like Sonia O’Sullivan, Mark Carroll, Karen Shinkins, Peter Coghlan and James Nolan was a source of huge controversy.

Coghlan and Nolan have again been omitted this year, as has Maria McCambridge, all of whom have been running regularly and may compete in the World Indoor and European championships.

Gillian O’Sullivan and Adrian O’Dwyer have received grants of €20,000 and €12,000 respectively, though both have been inactive in recent times.

ISC chief executive John Treacy stressed the scheme was consistent with the council’s aims and symptomatic of its increased flexibility in the allocation of state grants.

“Both (O’Sullivan and O’Dwyer) are world-class performers and have competed at the highest level and we’re going to continue to back those. We’ve been in communication with the AAI and they’ve made good cases for them. We don’t have too many athletes who can go to a World Championships and win a silver medal.

“If you look at walking it’s an older person’s game. We’re putting our faith in Gillian. It is the same with Adrian. He’s jumped 2.30 and that’s a world-class performance. We’re showing ourselves to be more flexible and backing people who can compete on the world stage.”

Whereas the AAI was fiercely critical of last year’s omissions, this time it was the athletics body - and every other national governing body - who submitted the list of applicants they believed merited consideration.

The ISC’s head of High Performance Finbar Kirwan said every athlete the AAI recommended was approved by the ISC.

“We’re working with the governing body,” explained Treacy. “They’ve made their cases in terms of Adrian and Gillian and we’re backing those. That’s the way we’re working now.”

Athletes not included in yesterday’s figures may still receive backing if, at a later date, it is thought their performances merit inclusion.

Those received funds can now, in theory, have their support stopped during the course of the 12 months.

There were a few other significant tweaks to the system in 2006. Athletes who win medals at pre-agreed events will now receive a 25% bonus, no matter their placing.

In another new development, the lightweight four crew that won a World Rowing silver have agreed a contract with the Council with the specific aim of allowing them concentrate fully on their preparations for Beijing.

These contracts are to be awarded to athletes deemed to have the potential to achieve a podium finish at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Treacy said yesterday that the aim for Ireland in the 2008 Olympics is to have at least eight finalists in Beijing with rowing, boxing, show jumping and track and field being our brightest hopes.

A total €6.17m was handed out yesterday with €1.92m of that going directly to 80 athletes and the remainder being dispersed among 18 sport bodies for the benefit of developmental and junior squads which includes team sports for the first time.

It was also revealed yesterday that the ISC had signed off on the proposal to establish and Irish Institute of Sport last Tuesday and it will now be submitted to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism for government approval.

€1m has already been set aside to get the project up and running.