Gaelic Games: The GAA hope to have a clearer idea of their fixtures calendar next week, reports Sean Moran. No decision has been taken on the St Patrick's Day club programme and Croke Park remain non-committal about its chances of taking place. However, it is hoped some of the National League schedules can be salvaged within the next month.
Yesterday's statement from Croke Park said the authorities are waiting for an arbitration decision from the Department of Agriculture committee, appointed to advise the Minister on what events can be allowed take place if Ireland is declared free of foot-and-mouth, assuming a fortnight elapses since the south Armagh outbreak.
"We understand that the Department is setting up an independent task force which will establish criteria in terms of what activity may or may not take place. We will be awaiting their decision. We don't expect to be in a position to take a definitive decision in relation to a resumption of activity until Tuesday at the earliest."
Senior officials of the association's Management Committee meet today to try to take stock of what courses of action are open to them in the weeks ahead.
The GAA and officials from the Department of Agriculture have been in regular contact and in the light of those discussions, the association has decided to leave the question of team training up to individual counties.
Rowing: The Gannon Cup, the annual head-to-head between UCD and Trinity on the Liffey is still on as of this morning, reports Liam Gorman.
The race is scheduled for Saturday, March 31st, and so far is the only rowing event on this island this month not cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Tribesmen have announced their head of the river, scheduled for this weekend, will now be held on October 27th.
Meanwhile, Gearoid Towey won gold as part of a quadruple scull in the New South Wales State Championships in Australia and Albert Maher won the South African "Diamond Sculls" in the Vaal regatta.
Special Olympics World Winter Games: Ireland collected more medals on Thursday in the novice giant slalom competition of the 2001 Games in Alaska.
Finbarr Hughes, from Markethill, Co Armagh won a gold medal in his division. Warren Tate (20), from Stillorgan, Co Dublin, secured another gold medal for Ireland while Lorraine Whelan (21) from Delgany, Co Wicklow won her second silver of the Games. Cormac Maguire (30), from Ballinteer, Dublin took silver in his division. Jacinta O'Neill received a fourth-place ribbon and Jim Nugent a participation ribbon in their respective divisions.
Hockey: The Irish Hockey Association has informed its branches and schools there should be no competitive hockey until after Sunday, March 25th, reports Mary Hannigan. The situation will be reviewed on Monday, March 26th. It is now expected that Leinster will abandon its plans to resume its league programme on March 24th.
Horse Trials: The Badminton Horse Trials have been called off this year due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, organisers announced yesterday.
About 250,000 potential visitors will be left disappointed by the cancellation of the world famous three-day event which had been due to start on May 3rd.
For the past two weeks, access to the show site in Badminton, Gloucestershire, has been barred and the situation is not likely to change in the foreseeable future, sponsors Mitsubishi Motors said.
Tennis: Tennis Ireland has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Technisport, distributors of the Ellesse sportswear brand in Ireland. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is linked with a project that will cover tennis attire for players on the international circuits. Peter Clarke's triumph at the Australian Unity Masters in Sydney last week was Ireland's latest success.
