PADDY BARNES, the Belfast boxer who won bronze for Ireland in Beijing, has signalled his intention to do better in the London Olympics in 2012.
Barnes will be treated to a hero's welcome when he returns to north Belfast this evening with a special reception planned for the young boxer at his Holy Family Boxing Club in the New Lodge.Club members were last night making arrangements for Barnes's homecoming which included trying to secure an open-top bus to show off their bronze medallist in north Belfast this evening.
When he touched down with his fellow Olympians and boxing medallists in Dublin yesterday, Barnes spoke of his delight at securing the bronze medal. He said he was amazed by the reception at the airport and looked forward to his arrival in Belfast this evening.
Barnes has the choice of turning professional or remaining as an amateur. At Dublin airport he indicated he had his sights on the London Olympics in four years, when he will be 25.
Hugh Russell, a fellow member of the Holy Family club who won bronze at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, said the local community was very proud of Barnes, especially the fact that the club now had two Olympic medallists, the only club with such an achievement. "We are going to have a big reception for him. We hope to bring him around the New Lodge and the Oldpark and the general area where he lives," said Russell.
He added that it was probably too early for Barnes to properly decide on his future.
"He will have to sit down and decide what to do."
