There are 150 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
That’s 150 more sleeps for what is likely to be Ireland’s largest ever group going to the games.
The number is currently sitting at 86 spots that have been qualified and the hope, and expectation, is that is rising towards more than the 116 who travelled to Tokyo and perhaps up to 125.
The fact of it being a ‘home’ games is very much to the fore as well with a group of existing or soon-to-be Olympians talking to media yesterday as part of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s update.
They are among the fortunate ones who have already booked their place on the plane.
Jack Marley, who still helps out with the kids at his Monkstown Boxing Club in Sallynoggin most Monday evenings, secured his place last year at the European Games, alongside Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh, Aoife O’Rourke and Dean Clancy.
Another five men and three women will be looking to join them from the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Italy starting this weekend.
Marley wouldn’t be drawn on his hopes in Paris but he has a ring of confidence about him.
“I’m an athlete going to the Olympic Games. Like, of course I’m aspiring for gold but I’m not saying this or I’m not going to put anything out there. I’m just going to do what I’ve always done, just one fight at a time.”
James Murphy will be on the Eventing team (pictured above), competing in Show Jumping, Cross Country and Dressage in what is a competition that demands every equestrian skill you can imagine.
He was part of the team that finished 5th at the London Games and has been enjoying the expertise and high-performance thoughts of Bernard Jackman who is part of the Team Ireland backroom staff with the equestrian competitors.
We also got to speak with Victoria Catterson from swimming and Madison Corcoran, all the way from Washington DC who will be competing in the Slalom Kayak.
We will be chatting to each of them in Thursday’s Sport for Business Podcast.
The preparation of athletes, coaches, administrators and sponsors is stepping up through the gears now and Daniel Wiffen will be speaking to the media on Thursday as part of his ambassadorship with PTSB, then others as we get to know the names and the personalities of those who will dominate the screens and the airwaves over the summer.
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