Grant boost for Beijing hopefuls

THE tremor that rocked Irish sport last year when leading sportsmen and women were dropped from the grants scheme or had their funding cut has eased and only minor after-shocks are likely to be experienced when the details of the Carding Scheme and the Performance Plan are revealed early in the New Year.

Since last year’s furore, there has been a review of the Carding Scheme and, contrary to rumours it was about to be dropped, it is to remain, with the promise of massive funding for elite athletes, those below that level and more emphasis and youth and development athletes.

Many athletes with their sights on Beijing 2008 and the major championships before that should be filling in applications for their federations who, in turn, will take their respective cases to the Irish Sports Council.