If great moments in sport are defined by the skills and achievements of an individual or team, 1996 will be remembered as a year when Irish women and men were centre stage in creating some of those sublime sporting moments that catch the breath and warm the heart. Rarely in sport does a year yield more than it promises but the past twelve months have seen a whole range of outstanding performances.
The long days of summer were dominated by the Olympics. When the Irish team left Dublin for the centennial games in Atlanta, most medal hopes rested with Ireland's 5000 metres world champion, Sonia O'Sullivan. But by the time the athletics events began in Atlanta, the relatively unknown Michelle Smith had already established herself as one of the great Olympians by winning three gold medals and a bronze in a series of outstanding swimming performances. Smith did not confine her polished performances to the pool she also handled herself with considerable aplomb during some hostile post victory press conferences.
The joy and celebrations of Smith's success quickly turned to sadness, however, when an ill and distressed Sonia O'Sullivan failed to finish in the 5000 metres final. In the space of a few days the never ending fascination of sport had been perfectly illustrated by Smith's fairytale Olympic success and the pain of seeing four years of preparation disappear in less than ten minutes for O'Sullivan.
Joy and despair were not limited to Atlanta. Hurling continued its remarkable renaissance with another summer of memorable matches and sporting drama. The kind of colour and passion that had surrounded Clare's 1995 win was repeated in September when an inspired Wexford side won their first All Ireland hurling title in 28 years. By contrast, Mayo footballers squandered a real chance of ending a 45 year wait when they were edged out by Meath in a replay that will be remembered more for an ugly melee than the quality of the football.
Other sports, too, served up their heroes and heroines in 1996. Few sports supporters will forget Imperial Call's victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup; Steve Collins's dogged determination in his world title fights against Nigel Benn; Bridie's Lynch's gold medal performance at the paralympics in Atlanta and Padraig Harrington's thrilling debut year in professional golf.
It was a pity in such a bountiful year that the only people to bring sport into disrepute were those whose job it is to administer its fortunes. The FAI's early year blood letting gave way to an even worse situation in Atlanta when the Olympic Council of Ireland and BLE fought out an unseemly public squabble over who controlled the rights to wear what gear. These silly power games - along with the GAA's inability to deal quickly with the All Ireland football final controversies and rugby union's ongoing difficulties with professionalism - undermine the wellbeing of sport.
Administrators need to be reminded that they are merely custodians of their sports. The task of nurturing talent, developing facilities and improving standards should be their main objective.