Swimming: In line with other sporting organisations' attitude towards foot-and-mouth restrictions north and south of the border, the Ulster Swimming Council has put on hold the Ulster Open championships, which were due to take place on March 26th to April 1st, reports Pat Roche.
Meanwhile, efforts to finalise Swim Ireland's Team 2001 have been delayed by the restrictions. The association's board of swimming directors were to meet in Dublin on Sunday. This meeting was postponed and it seems clarification of the squad will rest with the association's executive officers.
Cycling:The Court of Arbritation for Sport (CAS) yesterday slashed a ban on French star Richard Virenque imposed after he had admitted taking banned drugs to improve his performances. The Swiss Cycling Federation in late December had banned Virenque for nine months from February 1st.
The Lausanne-based CAS maintained the length of the ban, but ruled that it should have taken effect before the February date and said the ban should thus expire on August 14th and not October 30th.
Special Olympics World Winter Games: All six of the Irish Athletes competing in the Games walked away with a medal on the last day of the Competition at the Alyeska Resort in Alaska.
Finbarr Hughes added a bronze medal to his gold in the novice giant slalom and silver in the novice downhill. Jim Nugent took silver. Cormac Maguire won silver in his division to add to his silver medal in the novice giant slalom. Jacinta O'Neill took silver in her division. Lorraine Whelan took bronze in the novice slalom to add to her two silvers and Warren Tate won gold to go with his silver in the novice giant slalom.
