Sport for Business’ Coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games is supported by Team Ireland Official Partner Electric Ireland #ThePowerWithin
There are 306 events at the Olympic Games getting under way on Friday, and 77 Irish athletes heading towards their personal date with destiny after four years of preparation.
For most it will be about taking part and achieving a personal best performance.
For some though it will be a disappointment if they do not return with a medal and that is what the general public will judge as success.
Sports illustrated has pulled together its team of journalists and experts to forecast the outcome of each of the events at the games and there is good news for Ireland in that they are anticipating us coming home with no fewer than six medals, two each in gold, silver and bronze.
The focus unsurprisingly is in the boxing ring with Katie Taylor and Michael Conlan both down for Gold; Joe Ward and Michael O’Reilly in line for Silver and Paddy Barnes bringing back a medal from his third games, albeit a bronze which he would probably consider an under achievement.
The final medal forecast is to come from the golf course with Padraig Harrington suggested as the likely Bronze medal candidate behind Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia.
Of course this is all just a blend of wishful thinking, imagination and a bit of analytics. The real decisions and outcomes will take place this month. Still it gives us something to look forward to and aim at. Let the games commence…
