PAT HICKEY, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), last night put the Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA) alongside BLE and the FAI for its work as an Irish sporting body in the international arena.

Hickey was addressing delegates at a reception for the IASA annual general meeting at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.Pounds 15,000 to swimming's Olympic training fund.

Marion Madine and Earl McCarthy have joined Michelle Smith as selected competitors for Atlanta. Frank Stevens, the IASA outgoing president, made a presentation to Hickey to mark his election to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Stevens later handed over his chain of office to his successor, Peter Brennan of Connacht.

The 50 metre pool debate took an interesting turn when a delegate claimed that the project was being blocked here by the Department of Education, and said the Florida organisation International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) will scrap their plans for an Irish long course pool if they are not approved by next month.