Olympics: The Minister for Sport Dr Jim McDaid has rejected the suggestions made by Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), that he took sides in the dispute over which gear Irish athletes should wear at the Sydney Olympics, writes Ian O'Riordan.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister said that the OCI president "knows full well that my intentions were prompted solely by a desire to see an amicable solution to this embarrassing situation for the sake of the athletes."

However, according to Hickey, the recent comments made in the Dail by the Minister were "an attack on myself and the Olympic Council". He also states that information presented to the Dail failed to include reference to a letter from the International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch which fully supported the OCI position on the matter.

Equestrian: A record 92 runners line out for the Mitsubishi Motors-sponsored Badminton three-day event, which gets underway today, but Ireland fields just two of that number, writes Grania Willis. The Irish duo are both from Co Kildare, but although Ginny McGrath is making her third foray to Badminton, this will be Sarah Daly's debut.

McGrath rides the 15-year-old thoroughbred The Yellow Earl, which has already negotiated the Badminton four-star cross-country clear on his two previous outings. Daly's ride, Sweet Icon, is a newcomer to this level but the nine-year-old Sweet Con gelding produced double clears at both Punchestown and Blenheim last year.

Reigning world champion Blyth Tait, who will be defending his Olympic title in Sydney, is among the favourites for the honours.