Ireland’s team of 65 Olympians was unveiled yesterday at the National Concert Hall.  It is hailed as the strongest yet to travel to a games with all those involved having achieved the A standard or tougher qualifying mark.
Chef de Mission Sonia O’Sullivan was unwilling to put a number on the expectation for medals but the minimum benchmark is expected to be the three won by Irish boxers in Beijing.
The athletes represent 14 different sports with Kieran Behan in Gymnastics and Sanita Puspure in Rowing bridging long gaps and Natalya Coyle in Modern Pentathlon and Lisa Kearney in Judo marking their sports debut at the games in an Irish kit.
20% of those competing are from Northern Ireland and 45% are women.  Athletics is the best represented sport with 15 women and seven men.  There are 8 in the equestrian group and in sailing, six in boxing, five in cycling, four swimmers, three from canoeing, two from Triathlon and Badminton, one each from shooting and the four new or revived sports for Ireland mentioned above.
Rob and Marian Heffernan are husband and wife, Joanne and Catriona Cuddihy sisters while Analise Murphy is the daughter of 1988 Olympian Cathy MacAleavey.
The Irish kit for the games was also launched yesterday by Asics but will not be available for sale to the public as it has to be earned according to the Olympic Council of Ireland.  It is understood that some limited official merchandise will be available through Elverys and from the London Olympic House for those travelling in support.  Having witnessed the sales of replica kit in GAA, rugby, soccer and cycling it may be that a trick has been missed here though sales would be on a smaller scale.
The Olympic sponsors are also fit and ready for the games with Electric Ireland, Cadbury’s, Aer Lingus, Powerade, Kia Motors and Procter and Gamble among those active at present in marketing around the Irish team’s performance at the games.
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