£6 million added to games funding

Special Olympics: Ireland's hosting of the Special Olympics World Games in 2003 was boosted yesterday with the announcement of £6 million in sponsorship from six of the country's leading companies. It brings the total sponsorship for the Games so far to £8.25 million, writes Ian O'Riordan.

The six companies - Aer Lingus, An Post, Eircom, O'Brien's Sandwich Bars, RTE and Toyota - each contributed £1 million and they now become the official Games partners. Last August, Bank of Ireland was named the premier sponsor after stepping in with £2.25 million.

Further announcements are expected in the coming months to bring the total sponsorship above the £10 million mark.

At a reception in Dublin's Mansion House, Denis O'Brien, chairman of the organising committee, welcomed the sponsorship as another important vote of confidence. "With the Government's support we have now raised nearly half of the £24 million required. It is a good position but we still need all the support we can get."

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern spoke of his belief in the country's ability to stage a memorable event. "My hope is that these Games will leave a legacy behind, and that legacy will translate into the fullest participation in the community for the disabled," he said.

This 11th edition of the Special Olympics will be the largest multi-sport event ever staged in Ireland, attracting some 7,000 competitors from around 160 countries. Different from the Paralympics, the Games cater for individuals with a learning disability.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Croke Park on June 21st, 2003, and the new 50 metre swimming pool at Abbotstown is also due to be completed by that date.

Hockey: The "will they, won't they" saga surrounding Ireland's chances of making it in to the line-up for next September's women's World Cup qualifier in France finally ended in the affirmative yesterday when the International Hockey Federation confirmed their inclusion in the 16-nation tournament, writes Mary Hannigan.

Ireland had been told last month that they would have to wait until after the Americas Cup in March before they would know if they'd made the cut for the qualifier but it is now Belgium whose fate depends on whether or not Argentina win that tournament.

The decision to admit eight European nations to the qualifier, and not seven, guaranteed Ireland's place in the line-up, with the FIH deciding to release the list of participants now to give all concerned more time to prepare.