Investment in specialist sports programmes for children essential

NATIONAL Olympic rowing manager Mike Heskin believes the Government must begin to invest in the development of specialist sports programmes for children, if Ireland is to achieve its sporting potential.

Heskin heaped praise on the high performance strategies of the Irish Sports Council, but thinks more emphasis should be placed at foundation and grassroots levels if Irish competitors are to “step up to the next level”.

His comments came after the Irish lightweight and heavyweight fours finished tenth overall in their respective events at the Olympic Games. Both failed to make the A finals and both finished fourth in the B deciders at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park.