Deadline extension a boost for athletes and swimmers

ATHLETES and swimmers chasing Olympic qualifying standards were given a new lease of life last night when the Olympic Council of Ireland extended the deadline for A standard qualification to July 20 but warned that there will be no further extension.

A special meeting of the Executive of the OCI was called last evening to consider the cases put forward by the Athletics Association of Ireland and Swim Ireland for athletes who have all come close to the A standards required to get them to Athens next month.

But while they agreed to extend the deadline ­ the original deadline expired at midnight last Saturday ­ they did not add discus thrower Nick Sweeney to the team of 48 named earlier this week. He achieved the A standard at a meet in Massachusetts on Sunday but his throw has yet to be ratified by the IAAF.