O'Leary and Milne among 11 Olympians

SAILING:A TOTAL OF 400 entrants from 62 nations will contest sailing events at the Beijing Olympics starting in three weeks' time, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) announced this week. A further 80 from 25 counties have been announced for the Paralympic Games in September.

Four of the 2004 winning teams will return to defend their titles in the Olympic regatta, comprising 11 disciplines ranging from dinghies to windsurfers.

The first event begins on August 9th, the day after the opening ceremony in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the identity of Ireland's representatives in the Star class was finally resolved following the OCI Appeal Tribunal that upheld the Irish Sailing Association's nomination of Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne.

An avenue of further appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport was open to Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks but they declined the option and in a statement put on record their "disappointment" not to be representing Ireland.

The Dún Laoghaire crew pointed out they had the best Irish result at an international championship in this Olympic cycle, won the "Star Olympic indicator series" and qualified Ireland to go to Beijing in the Star class.

They called on the ISA to revert to an "objective, results-based selection procedure" whereby those with Olympic ambitions would know "exactly what they need to do to qualify".

The pair added: "We wish Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne well in China. They are welcome to the use of our boat and equipment, which is in China, should the need arise. We wish them fair winds, fast sailing and every success in the Olympic regatta."

The Irish line-up submitted by the Olympic Council of Ireland includes 11 sailors in six boats: women's single-handed dinghy (Laser Radial): Ciara Peelo in a fleet of 28 boats; men's two-person dinghy (470): Ger Owens and Phil Lawton (29 boats); men's keelboat (Star): Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne (16 boats); heavyweight dinghy (Finn): Timothy Goodbody (25 boats); two-person keelboat (SKUD18): Amy Kelehan and John Twomey (11 boats); three-person keelboat (Sonar): Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Richard Whealey (14 boats).

Email: branigan@indigo.ie