Ireland can wave hello to ripple effect soon

For those who believe Ireland will never get to stage the Olympics the announcement that London will host the 2012 summer Games is the next best thing.reports

The opportunities to develop sporting structures and facilities aren't nearly as far-reaching, but they exist nonetheless. And those aspiring to compete will find the environment, the stage and the audience the closest thing to their own back yard.

There'll be no exhausting travel and no acclimatisation. There'll also be none of the usual language or cultural barriers - and no excuses not to perform either. Some athletes could sleep in their own beds and still make the start-line. One of the only problems will be getting familiar again with the old pounds and pence.

"I think it's fantastic news for the whole athletics community in Ireland," said Liam Hennessy, international secretary with the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI).

"And it can't be anything but positive for all of Irish sport. It also comes at an opportune time for all our future strategic planning. It's a great opportunity for us to capitalise on this."

Having endured a disappointing Olympics on the track in Athens, the AAI were already looking toward 2012, embracing the recommendations of the Athens Review. The London announcement will add some pace to that process.

"From a planning point of view it's not that far away," added Hennessy, "and I think with all the hype that will surround London there is a great impetus to get things going.

"It's a challenge as well and that means working closely with all the associations such as the Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland.

"Of course, the cost factor in getting there is minimal. But I think British athletics will really take this on, and there is an opportunity there to work with them, which we do already."

Olympic rower Sam Lynch believes Irish athletes across all sports can take advantage of the London decision, but that will mean embracing the opportunity before it's too late.

"It probably will be an extra incentive for all Irish athletes," says Lynch. "I expect the whole country will be overtaken by the fervour that's going to infect the English.

"You're talking about an environment almost identical to Ireland, and from a preparation and training point of view that's a huge advantage.

"When you talk about Beijing you're talking about being on the other side of the planet, and the expenditure involved in the preparation and travelling for that is enormous."

There are, says Lynch, still some holes in the essential structures of Ireland's Olympics preparations, and they need to be addressed now in order to take full advantage of the staging of the Games in London.

"Maybe if we can divert some of those resources we'll save on the preparations for London and help establish some permanent bases here, and create some lasting effects. We do have a good facility in Cork, but we need to develop places like Blessington.

"The way you have to look at things in sport is that Beijing is tomorrow, and London is next week. It's already too late to do anything significant ahead of Beijing. It's not going to make any difference what we do before then.

"We already know the athletes we're going to have in Beijing. But if we act now we can make a difference before London."

Eamonn Coghlan is a veteran of three Olympics, where he twice finished fourth, and while he welcomed the decision to give the 2012 Games to London, he also emphasised the need for Irish sport to stop talking about the future, and start acting on it.

"I'm not that surprised to hear about London," he admits. "New York would have been my sentimental favourite, but I was impressed by the work Seb Coe was doing, and I'm delighted now that they're going to be so close.

"I think it will provide a huge incentive for any young kid out there.

"It's a big advantage for them, to think they will almost be competing at home.

"But more importantly, it provides an incentive for the powers that be. When it comes to improving the structures in this country we should stop talking about it and start delivering on it.

"We have a bunch of youngsters competing in a European Youth Olympics this week, and they're already winning medals for us. They're the ones we need to make sure benefit from this decision, and get everything they need to prepare right for London."