Continued from front gested that athletes wear Reebok on all team business but be permitted to choose between Reebok and Asics when competing on the track or in the field. They understood this to mean that Asics would distribute shorts and vests' to athletes for optional use.

Significantly, under the auspices of this agreement, Reebok would scoop the big endorsement jackpot. Sonia O'Sullivan likely to compete in two finals in Atlanta, and the country's biggest medal prospect by far has a long standing personal endorsement deal with Reebok. Last night, Jane Haite, of O'Sullivan's London management group, backed Pat Hickey's position.

"As far as we understood competition clothing is optional and Sonia will definitely be wearing Reebok in Atlanta."

Quite pointedly, too, Sonia O'Sullivan has chosen to wear Reebok's new Irish competition gear in recent weeks while competing on the Grand Prix circuit. Depending on her interpretation of the respective positions, O'Sullivan may decide to wear Reebok in Atlanta regardless of BLE's wishes.

BLE and Asics have a different slant, however. They insist that athletes will wear Asics clothing when competing on the track, for all laps of honour and for all medal ceremonies.

This difference of opinion became apparent in mid week when Nick Davis, who will manage the Irish athletics team in Atlanta, contacted Shay MacDonald, the chef de mission of the entire Irish Olympic squad, to offer to distribute the Reebok gear along with the Asics gear to the selected athletes.

The Olympic Council of Ireland had already sent Reebok gear (by request) to O'Sullivan, and in the course of discussion between MacDonald and Davis it became clear that Asics hoped to send track suits and T-shirts, as well as competition gear, to Irish athletes. The Reebok gear remained in the OCI warehouse to be sent to Irish athletes as soon as an official team list is submitted by BLE.

Meanwhile, Hickey has written to Davis seeking an urgent meeting with BLE before Davis departs to Atlanta on Wednesday of next week. Davis who says his primary concern is getting athletes onto the track says that meeting may take place on Monday or Tuesday. But as to what those athletes wear on the track he sees little room for manoeuvre.