Michael Heery, vice-president of the Amateur Athletics Association of Ireland, yesterday paid tribute to the role of the corporate sector in the development of Irish athletics.

Tracing the success of the sport since Ron Delany's Olympic success in 1956, he said that athletics had brought Ireland more international acclaim than any other discipline.

"That is our proud claim and it's down in part to the fact that the private and public sectors have assisted us in ensuring that we are in a position to develop the outstanding young talent in this country," he said.

Heery was attending a function to announce details of the sponsorship of the national juvenile championships by Capri Sun.

This is the sixth year of the partnership and the numerical entry is such that for the first time it will be necessary to stage the championships over four sessions.

Sonia O'Sullivan was among those who paid tribute to the importance of the meeting in the context of the growth of the sport and promised that she would be available to offer advice to the younger generation of athletes during the track season.