British decision may shatter Irish Olympic dreams

THE Olympic dreams of several Irish athletes may be jeopardised by a proposed change in the British Olympic Association charter to include Northern Ireland as part of Team Great Britain for Athens this summer.

Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey says the OCI are mystified at the BOA decision to change their charter. According to the IOC, the OCI represents the entire island of Ireland but it has let athletes who qualify for the British team, which has stricter qualification standards, to compete under the British flag.

"We have always had the most cordial and positive working relationship with the BOA," said Hickey. "We both worked extremely well together and this is why this move shocks and saddens me so much. There seems to be something underhand here."