Boxers from Britain and the Republic have based themselves at the national coaching and training centre in the University of Limerick in preparation for the World Amateur championships in Belfast next month.
The Irish team of 19 boxers, along with the Welsh and Scottish teams, has set up camp at the Kilmurray village complex in the university. This weekend they will be joined by the English squad. Mr Dominic O'Rourke, president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, said the Irish team was using "top class" facilities on the campus under an arrangement with the national coaching and training centre and UL. More than 70 countries will send teams to the championships. "We have doctors and physios and everything is being monitored. There is nowhere else in Ireland that has that."
Two boxing rings have been installed at the university's newly built indoor arena, part of a £21 million development which will include the State's first Olympic-sized, 50-metre, 10-lane swimming pool when phase two is completed in the autumn. The arena has a 60metre, six-lane sprint track, a three-lane suspended jogging track, a weightlifting room, and health and cardiovascular suites. It also has capacity for four basketball courts. Among the Irish entrants are Olympian Michael Roche, Liam Cunningham, and the Sligo brothers, Alan and Stephen Reynolds. Following the resignation of Cuban coach Nicolas Cruz as chief coaching administrator, James Moore is chief coach.
O'Rourke added that the presence of the English, Welsh and Scottish teams provided opportunities for sparring with unknown opponents. "To be in a competition like that and have them all under the one roof is fantastic.
"The co-operation is there from the `home nations'. The four countries are looking to prepare for the Athens Olympics in 2004."