‘Honoured’ Paul McGinley is Irish Golf team leader for Rio Olympics

The Olympic Council of Ireland has unveiled the Team Ireland leaders for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and an "honoured" European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is one of the 17 names on that list.

The 17 team leaders announced on Thursday morning will be recognised as the person having the overall responsibility for that sport, all under the overall leadership of the Team Ireland Chef de Mission, Kevin Kilty.

Each Team Leader has previous leadership and management experience at an Olympic Games ,World or European Championship.

"It was a great honour for me over the last two years to represent Europe as captain," said the 47-year-old McGinley, "I am now delighted to have the opportunity to assist my country as team leader of the men's and ladies Irish Golf Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the Olympic Council of Ireland in the build up to Rio over the next 18 months and representing our country at this phenomenal event.”

The decisionto appoint McGinley has been hailed by world number one Rory McIlroy. The Belfast-born golfer who has opted to play for Ireland in Rio said that during the victorious Ryder Cup campaign, “from the first day, the speeches that he gave, the videos he showed us, the people that he got in to talk to us, the imagery in the team room, it all tied in together.

“It was all part of the plan, all for the cause of trying to win this Ryder Cup, and he was meticulous in his planning. He left no stone unturned.”

Preparation

The Olympic Council of Ireland say they will deliver a team management programme in the run up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and each appointed team leader will be expected to attend all the required workshops, training, policy development and team days.

A special government allocation of €1 million has also been announced to support qualification, preparation and participation for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The investment will provide additional support to 18 sporting bodies in the areas of acclimatisation camps, familiarisation and preparation tours, training camps and competition costs.

The Olympic Council of Ireland insist a key component of the successful preparation of London 2012 was the acclimatisation camps and preparation tours and The Olympic Council of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland have identified Uberlandia as the best possible location for Team Ireland in advance of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said:

"We have achieved much in the last two Olympic cycles, with unprecedented levels of cooperation and understanding between the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland.

The Team Leaders for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are:

Athletics - Kevin Ankrom

Badminton - Tom Reidy

Boxing - Joseph Hennigan

Canoeing - Ike Jacob

Clay Pigeon Shooting - Jeffrey C McCready

Cycling - Brian Nugent

Golf - Paul McGinley

Gymnastics - Sally Filmer

Hockey - Mike Heskin

Horse Sport - Triona Connors

Judo - Ciaran Ward

Modern Pentathlon - Lindsey Weedon

Rowing - Morten Espersen

Rugby Football - Gillian McDarby

Sailing - James O’Callaghan

Swimming - Peter Banks

Triathlon - Chris Kitchen