The football administrators on both sides of the Border should take note, but will they?
Team Ireland shows what an all-island approach can achieve on the world stageNorthern Irish athletes have been able to play to these ambiguities brilliantly. Of the seven athletes who opted for Team GB, two have won gold, swimmerMcMillan represented Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics. He balanced the risk of opting for a more competitive relay team with the reward of greater opportunities to win medals. The gamble was worth it.
Four years later, when the International Olympic Committee insisted that athletes from the North must compete for Great Britain, Ireland boycotted the 1936 Berlin games. The issue was not resolved fully until 1952, when the IOC conceded the principle that the North’s athletes were free to represent Ireland or Great Britain.
For most Northern athletes the journey to the Olympic Games began on roads south to places such as the National Aquatic Centre, the National Boxing Stadium and the National Rowing Centre in Cork.had already represented Britain and Northern Ireland as a youngster before his coach, Luke Carson, was made redundant from Rathgael Gym in Bangor.
The exception to this is football. As the historian Cormac Moore points out in his book The Irish Soccer Split, the first ruling body for Ireland was the Irish Football Association , founded in 1880. Though the political atmosphere of the early 1920s did not help matters, it was a desire to wrestle control from the Belfast-dominated IFA which led to the split and the formation of the Football Association of Ireland.
Olympic-Games Paris-2024 Football-Association-Of-Ireland-Fai
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Phil Moore: ‘Seeing athletes ride the emotional rollercoaster that is the Olympic Games is always a thrill’Behind Team Ireland: Deputy Chef de Mission with Team Ireland
Read more »
Olympics at a glance: Men’s double sculls set best time; Ireland to play All Blacks for fifth placeDefending champions Belgium too strong for Ireland; Ireland swimmers start campaign; Eventing team in dressage action
Read more »
Olympics: Team Ireland set for major homecoming celebrationThe event in Dublin marks the first time the Irish Olympic team have received a civic reception on their return home
Read more »
Olympic homecoming for Team Ireland to take place in O’Connell Street on MondayEvent is free and Dublin City Council inviting public to ‘family-friendly, alcohol-free event’
Read more »
Team Ireland Olympic homecoming details announced by Dublin City CouncilA homecoming reception will be held next Monday on O'Connell street for Team Ireland.
Read more »
Ireland set new team pursuit national record but bow out after qualifying roundMia Griffin, Lara Gillespie, Kelly Murphy and Alice Sharpe made history on their Olympic debut.
Read more »