OCI asked to investigate Athens team management

Sailing ColumnOne of the athletes who competed in the Athens Olympics last August has written to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) requesting them to conduct an investigation into the conduct of the Irish sailing team management there.

It is the latest development in a long-running story of discontent following another postponement of the long-awaited Wharton Report commissioned by the Irish Sailing Association (ISA).

However, that document, understood to be critical of team management, has been read out to squad members at a coaching conference in Limerick, while parts of the main Athens review were leaked to the Sunday Tribune last weekend.

In addition, it was reported that the entire Athens 2004 squad wrote to the ISA pleading for a complete overhaul of the Olympic structures, including management changes aimed at fostering a more positive approach for the future.

However, after a week of bad publicity, the athletes have insisted that they do not want a witch-hunt for individuals in management whom they generally regard as well-motivated.

Despite that wish, it has emerged this week that one of the sailors has written to the OCI requesting a full investigation into management conduct following an incident in Athens which almost resulted in two sailors being sent home.

These latest developments follow previous criticism of the ISA by an OCI investigation into the Star class qualification procedures that led to bitter exchanges and threats of legal action.

While it is no secret that relations were strained between OCI president Pat Hickey and ISA chief executive/secretary Paddy Boyd - dating back to sailing's failed attempt to depose Ireland's representative on the IOC - the latest developments are all of the ISA's own making.

Still, the initiative, two weeks ago, by the athletes could also be seen as an attempt to divert attention away from a poor Irish showing at Athens following heightened expectations.

The sailors, though, are fully aware of their less than sparkling performances across the boards. But expectations of being in the medals in three classes were delivered by management anxious to quench political thirsts and keep the funding flowing.

The sailors can take comfort from the fact they did qualify according to agreed performance criteria and did achieve funding levels by recognised standards.

They also delivered some fine results in the build-up to the games, so their potential cannot be disputed, just their ability to finish in the top three at the Olympic regatta, globally recognised as an enormous task.

In management's favour, there exists no proven formula that guarantees results at Olympic level. True, the ISA was offered an opportunity to participate in the Royal Yachting Association's programme 20 years ago that has seen Britain emerge as top sailing nation at the Sydney and Athens Games.

But the Wharton Report is believed to caution against trying to copy a country with deep pockets and a larger population base, and instead recommends that Ireland follow the example of smaller countries.

This approach would seem to debunk the expectation of medals at the Olympics when the sailors have yet to score consistent results on their international circuits.

Achieving success regularly at world and European championship level would appear to be the correct stepping-stone for the final leg-up to the Olympics.

Irish sailing, though, seems to have regarded the international circuit as a means of identifying talent, then blooding those who achieve the selection criteria by sending them to their "first Games", thus proving basic talent but not actually achieving notable results.

This emphasis is understandable when recent history is examined. For years, sailing was regarded as "politically incorrect" by government to the extent of being untouchable. Only Olympic sailing with its pure image escaped what was otherwise regarded as support for a wealthy elite to enjoy their sport.

Whether by design or coincidence, the entire focus of the ISA has shifted away from its traditional support for club sailors and sailing in Ireland to a machine devoted to extracting success on the Olympic stage.