Rory McIlroy has announced that he is to play for Ireland at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The announcement on the eve of the Irish Open at Fota Island brings to an end speculation that has ebbed and flowed over the past two years. His choice was to play for team GB or team Ireland, the possibility arising out of Northern Ireland’s uniques position straddling two cultures, two islands and so much more.
Golf, as is the case with rugby, athletics, GAA and many more is administered on an island of Ireland basis so when playing at representative level as a boy, McIlroy would have always worn green.
Rightly or wrongly the importance of whether a 12 year old prodigy wears green, red, white or blue is less than when he has grown into a world figure of such huge talent, profile and commercial appeal.
Progress
Progress in other areas beyond sport mean that the decision now will not cause bloodshed as it once might have, whichever way he went. In the end he has gone with his own instinct and followed a path he felt was right for him. McIlroy is a child of our times, with parents from across the cultural divide and his decision will be greeted with mild curiosity around most of the world, nothing more, nothing less.
Within tourism circles it might have seemed strange to go the GB route having been such a champion of the Irish Open and the return of the Open Championship to Royal Portrush in 2019. Now it will seem perfectly natural for him to continue the powerful ambassadorial role he plays at present.
There will be other implications from his choice.
Team Ireland will now have two global stars in it’s ranks, Katie Taylor as well as McIlroy. The difference in his earnings and lifestyle will bring potential tension to an Olympic movement here that has always given high profile, once every four years, to sports and athletes that earn at most some €40,000 from grants.
Overshadowed
Andy Murray’s inclusion as part of Team GB in London was overshadowed by the success that so many British athletes enjoyed. He was among equals in terms of public perception.
That may be different in Ireland where we do like to indulge in occasional begrudgery and it will be interesting to follow where the cameras are trained at team Ireland announcements, departures, partnership arrangements and more.
Cadbury’s ambassadors for their Olympic sponsorship in 2012 were Grainne Murphy and Paul Hession. Electric Ireland gave the oxygen of public support to boxers, high jumpers and stars of Judo. In 2016 will they want some piece of McIlroy’s international stardust?
It will be a question asked at senior level in boardrooms and national governing bodies.
For now we can enjoy tyne glow of a world star ‘declaring’ for Ireland.
“On behalf of Team Ireland, I am thrilled at the news that Rory will declare for Ireland for the Rio Games,” said Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
“His amazing sporting talent, brilliant personality and endless energy will give all our athletes a huge boost. He is an iconic figure in world sport and will be very warmly welcomed by all the Irish team members, no matter what sport they represent. This is great news for Ireland’s medal prospects for Rio 2016.”
The thornier issue of how such a bright star may make others appear slightly less bright than would normally be the case once every four years is a subject which can be resolved but which will take some imagination over the next 24 months.
