Athletics unity dominates despite absence from Congress agenda

ALTHOUGH efforts to get the issue on the agenda failed, athletics unity and the prospect of one licence for all of Ireland will be mentioned at the second annual Congress of Athletics Ireland this weekend in Donegal.

There is likely to be a meeting between representatives of AAI, the Ulster Athletics Council and the Northern Ireland Athletic Federation tomorrow morning, with AAI president Michael Heery, to make a statement to Congress afterwards.

There will be a huge interest in what the president has to say, as the decision not to allow the issue on to the Congress agenda disappointed members who see a licence for the whole of Ireland as an achievable objective under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

A group calling themselves The Friends of Irish Athletics have been working behind the scenes and politicians have been lobbied at the highest level. However, nothing will be done politically without the full backing of the AAI.

Since its formation a clear co-operative agreement has operated very well between the AAI and the NIAF and obviously nobody would want to jeopardise that. But, there is a feeling in Ulster that the equal partner is not the NIAF but UK athletics and the Ulster Council of the AAI would welcome a meeting between the parties under an independent chairman.

Having said that, everyone has the height of respect for the new President of the NIAF, Dave McKibbin.

Patsy McGonagle, vice-president of Athletics Ireland, has admitted the question of the licence for the whole of Ireland is something dear to his heart.

"But this is a matter that will have to be progressed in a very calm and rational atmosphere," he insisted. "I understand the soccer issue has been raised recently and there have been discussions as regards horse racing. It would be nice to be able to resolve the problem that has dogged athletics for so long."

Congress will review a very successful year for Irish athletics, with medals from practically all of the major championships, topped by Gillian O'Sullivan's silver from the world championships in Paris.

The appointment of Elaine Fitzgerald as High Performance Director has been like a breath of fresh air and she has done an enormous amount of work in a comparatively short time in the lead up to the Olympic Games.

In his annual report, International Secretary, Liam Hennessy, points out that her appointment is only until next December but they will be asking the Sports Council to fund the position long-term.

Plans are already in place for next season's cross-country programme. It was decided this week to send four teams to the European championships in Germany in December and there will be senior men's and women's teams at the world championships in St. Etienne.

Squads for those events will be assembled as early as September.

But one of the most important developments in athletics here could be the Academy of Irish Athletics, which gets under way on May 16 at ALSAA and Morton Stadium.

Some 400 young athletes - the top three in all events from 15 upwards will be assembled under some of the leading coaches and their own personal coaches have also been invited.

The project is under the direction of the former national secretary, Dermot Nagle, and invitations, based on the results of last year's championships, have already been dispatched.