What could have been: The diaspora lending a hand in the international medal hunt in Tokyo

Saskia Tidey, (right) who competed for Britain alongside Charlotte Dobson in the 49erFX class in sailing at the Olympics, finishing seventh.

Not all of the Irish stories here in Tokyo have been told by athletes or coaches wearing green singlets or tracksuits. A country so accustomed to sending its sons and daughters out into the wider world is always going to have parts to play in the Olympic journey of other nations.

This is just a selection of them. They span eight different sports, nine different countries and include athletes, coaches and officials, male and female, young and not-so-young. Some are born and bred on Irish soil, others are children or grandchildren of emigrants.