Subscriber OnlyLetters

Team Ireland and an Olympics to remember

We’ll always have Paris

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Tue Aug 13 2024 - 00:10

Sir, – Thanks to The Irish Times poster, I have watched all Team Ireland Olympians from the Rugby Sevens (day one) to the velodrome on the final day. I have read the Olympic articles daily following the events of the previous day – thanks to your reporters. Each Olympian did the nation proud, whether in victory with gold and bronze medals, national records and personal bests or in disappointments and defeats when each Olympian was very gracious. Thanks also to RTÉ, which I followed from morning to night. Thanks are due to all the presenters, analysts and commentators at each one of the venues and their depth of knowledge. However, I have to single out David Gillick – his empathy should be bottled for the nation. Now, let’s do it all over again for the Paralympians! – Yours, etc,

LILIAN WEBB,

Naas,

Co Kildare.

READ MORE

Sir, – Congratulations to the beleaguered RTÉ on its excellent coverage of the Olympic Games. Authoritative, interesting and entertaining. Well done all. – Yours, etc,

NIGEL SWAN,

Naas,

Co Kildare.

Sir, – Greg Allen’s informative, considered, knowledgeable and engaging Olympic commentary was truly wonderful. – Yours, etc,

SIOBHAN DOOLEY,

Rathgar,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – I see Senator Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fáil has called for Ireland to start planning now to host the Summer Olympics in 2072 (News, August 11th). I suppose – to take a random example of our ability to complete essential infrastructure – and only if it was still urgent, we might have the National Children’s Hospital completed by then, but I wouldn’t think we’d have a rail link to the airport or dedicated bus lanes as it’s only 48 years away. – Yours, etc,

TOMÁS FINN,

Cappataggle,

Ballinasloe,

Co Galway.

Sir, – Without doubt the standout sports commentator on RTÉ during the Olympics was in basketball. Having only become aware of Tim McCarthy in the current Olympics, it was easy to become an instant fan. His enthusiasm for his sport could not be equalled. His unique turn of phrase, delivered at breakneck speed, to describe the action conveyed the excitement of every game to his audience. The terms he used might seem strange in basketball, but we know exactly what he means by “boom-shaka-laka”, “shot from downtown”, or “my beautiful balloon”. A gold medal for commentary is overdue. – Yours, etc,

JIM WARD,

Barna,

Galway.

Sir, – Olympic Team Ireland has lit the torch of participation and continued improvement for sportspeople nationwide. RTÉ, to its credit, provided excellent coverage and commentary of their endeavours. But as many of our athletes (and commentators) referenced, the Olympics, albeit the pinnacle, is just one of the many competitions our athletes compete in throughout the season. Others include the Nationals, the Europeans, the Worlds, the Diamond Leagues, and the myriad meets held in between these prestigious events. If we want to fan the flames of interest and participation in athletics that our 2024 Olympians have ignited, then our national broadcaster should provide greater coverage of these other events.

Likewise, the Government should ensure that every county in Ireland has at least one fully equipped and funded community athletics facility. Track and field athletics incorporates over 20 individual disciplines, and caters for a much wider range of body types, mentalities, skill sets and ages than our leading national sports which are already heavily funded by the Government. In Paris, we have seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of what athletics has to offer, and how great our potential is. But while competing in the Olympics may be but an aspiration for the vast majority of our current athletes, having a sports facility that could cater for the greater population in all its shapes and sizes could only engender a positive lifestyle from a young age and, supported by a solid PE programme in our primary schools, provide an interest, indeed a passion, that would represent a pathway for a healthy body and mind, and an alternative to the many destructive distractions that exist in today’s world.

We want to see our young people engage in sport, so let’s provide them with facilities and coaching that allow a wide spectrum to participate. – Yours, etc,

HUGH McDONNELL,

Dublin 9.

Sir, – Paris 2024 has proven that the Olympic Games is the world’s leading international festival of sport. During the past fortnight, Paris was the centre of the world where the French, with typical Gallic flair, affirmed the unifying power of sport. The City of Love radiated with bonhomie, togetherness, joie de vivre and solidarity. From the colourful opening ceremony, where Celine Dion delivered a powerful rendition of L’hymne à l’amour (The Hymn to Love), the games ran like clockwork.

We were privileged to witness the world’s best athletes competing for their nations’ and their personal glory. They were the heroes who, in true Corinthian spirit, gave their all for their respective countries. Not all competitors won medals but all have achieved the distinct honour of becoming Olympians, which they can dine out on for life.

To win a gold, silver or bronze Olympic medal is a lifetime achievement. The athletes left no stone unturned to get on the podium. That is why our daily routine was discarded, why the dog wasn’t walked, why the grass wasn’t cut, so that we could soak-up the competitive atmosphere and marvel at the extraordinary performances of elite athletes.

Paris 2024 will be fondly remembered in Ireland. Our gallant Olympians punched above their weight, tamed the wild horse, pulled like a dog, swam like a dolphin and ran like a cheetah. We bask in the reflected glory of Team Ireland’s success. Well done, Team Ireland. – Yours, etc,

BILLY RYLE,

Tralee,

Co Kerry.

Sir, – Seriously, RTÉ, is there no athletics knowledge outside of the “real capital”! – Yours, etc,

TREVOR HOLMES,

Maynooth,

Co Kildare.

Sir, – Over the past two weeks, the spirit of the Olympic Games has shone through in every sport. Whether winning or losing, the sheer joy and camaraderie among all the competitors has been outstanding to witness. With the new soccer season starting, perhaps they could learn from the Olympic spirit. – Yours, etc,

GM HUGHES,

Stockport,

England.

Sir, – A thought occurred to me as I watched the Olympic closing ceremony. Why do the Americans insist on mangling their national anthem? – Yours, etc,

DAVID CLEERE,

Gorey,

Co Wexford.

Sir, – While thrilled at the Olympic success of our Team Ireland athletes, the Paris Games were a huge disappointment for me and others consigned by territorial broadcasting rights to watching the action on BBC.

Our access to RTÉ coverage was blocked in Northern Ireland by licensing regulations that ignore our national and cultural identity and the reality of all-Ireland administration for every major sport except soccer.

Day after day, we were excluded from the national revelry of our athletes’ successes, the expert analysis of Irish commentators and the focus on the development of our home-grown talent.

We were allowed mere glimpses of the feats of our medallists, including local golden boys Daniel Wiffen from Co Armagh and Rhys McClenaghan from Co Down. In the latter case, the BBC team focused on the performance of the Team GB pommel horse contestant who came fourth.

Notwithstanding the fact that 32 of our Team Ireland contestants are from north of the territorial broadcasting border (against the six that competed from Great Britain), the licensing arbiters decided we would wish to know about the success of Team GB.

With four years to go before the Los Angeles Olympics, one can only hope that the broadcasting regulations will catch up with reality for those of us relegated to the also-rans of Team Ireland enthusiasts. – Yours, etc,

DARACH MacDONALD,

Derry.

Sir, – When does the ploughing start? – Yours, etc,

DAVID CURRAN,

Knocknacarra,

Galway.