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Gnáthamharc

Olympic Games.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004

Thursday, 30 September 2004

Ceisteanna (140, 141)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

141 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views in regard to the results of the participants in the Athens Olympic Games; the proposals his Department has to access the results; the meetings he or his Department has had or proposes to have with the IOC and the Irish Sports Council in regard to processing the results or the preparatory work that will be put in place to prepare for the next games; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23001/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jack Wall

Ceist:

142 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views in regarding the reports that debriefing of athletes after the Athens Olympics was not carried out to the satisfaction of the athletes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23002/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council, which is the statutory body charged with responsibility for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, is directly responsible with the Olympic Council of Ireland and the relevant national governing bodies of sport, in all matters relating to the preparation and participation of Irish competitors at the Olympic Games.

My Department has already been in contact with the Irish Sports Council in relation to Ireland's performance at Athens. The council has advised that a review of Team Ireland's participation in this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games is currently being undertaken — Athens Review. The review involves questionnaires, one-to-one meetings with the athletes, support personnel, coaches and performance directors. I have been assured by the council that the matters raised by the Deputy will be addressed in the context of the review.

The aim of the review is to produce an objective assessment of the preparation and performance of the Irish teams at the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of all aspects of the programmes throughout the four-year cycle, with a view to making recommendations regarding the development of a programme for Beijing in 2008.

Wharton Consulting, a leading consultancy firm based in Britain, is conducting the review under the direction of the Sports Council. Wharton Consulting was selected by the Sports Council following a public tender process and has considerable experience working with sporting organisations in England, including Sport England. The review is due for completion by 1 December 2004 and it is the intention of the Irish Sports Council to publish the report in due course.

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