OCI stand firm on standards and quotas for Athens Games

THE Olympic Council of Ireland will stand firm on the standards and quotas for next year’s Olympic Games in Athens — which means that only A standards will be accepted in the case of athletics and swimming — as well as on the final date for achieving those standards, set as June 30 next year.

And honorary general secretary Dermot Sherlock told last night's annual general meeting of the OCI that the extreme standards for the recent world track and field championships may be reviewed and could be even be reviewed upwards.

"I wish to confirm that B Standards will not be recognised as sufficient for entry to the Games in athletics or in swimming and that the closing date for nominations by national federations to the OCI for qualified Athletes will be June 30," said Mr Sherlock.