This week the OFI Athletes’ Commission launched the “Don’t Scroll By” Campaign which had a real call to action, asking everyone to play a role in eliminating hate speech online.
On Tuesday the OFI launched the campaign with a video which highlighted the message #DeleteBanReport.
A booklet was distributed to sports explaining why it is important to celebrate and safeguard our athletes, inviting official sports channels around the country to adopt the same zero-tolerance approach.
Also launched a Don’t Scroll By module on our Dare to Believe Schools Programme.
Tokyo Updates
A new Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President has been appointed, Hashimoto Seiko is taking on the position as an experienced political figure, who is a former Chef de Mission, and the appointment was welcomed widely.
Archery
Archery and Muaythai have been added to the programme for the European Games 2023 in Krakow-Malopolska.
Athletics
Last weekend it was refreshing to have live athletics being returning to the Sport Ireland Campus, with the Irish Life Health Elite Micro Meet at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.
On Day One amongst the highlights was the final of the men’s 800m, where Mark English broke his own National Record with 1:46.10, and Longford’s Cian McPhillips clocking a 6 second PB with 1:46.13.
Day two was just as exciting, with the women’s 800m race being the biggest discussion point with four athletes claiming personal bests, and running inside the European Indoor Standard of 2:03.85, to add to the Sunday night Irish record of Síofra Cléirigh Buttner with a time of 2:00.58.
Wednesday’s World Cup Tour in Madrid saw five athletes compete, with Nadia Power (800m) and Sarah Lavin (60mh) both finishing in an impressive third place.
Boxing
In Tokyo related news, the IOC Boxing Task Force has cancelled the World Qualifier in Paris in June, with those allocated spots being now distributed equally across four regions (Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe).
The Task Force will be ranking athletes, which means that the best ranked boxer in each category and continent who hasn’t previously qualified will be awarded a spot. Ireland had been midway through the European qualifiers last March when the event was cancelled due to the pandemic, and where the only Irish athlete to qualify was Brendan Irvine. There will now be a wait before the ranking system is updated, and the European qualifiers are completed.
Experienced boxing referee Dermot McDermott has been given the nod to officiate at the Americas Olympic qualifier.
Cycling
Thursday was a momentous day for Sam Bennett, when he claimed his 50th career win, after storming to victory in the bunch sprint on Stage 4 of the UAE Tour at Al Marjan Island.
Equestrian
Last weekend Wexford’s Bertram Allen and the Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Vegas took a superb victory in the three -star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA, continuing a good run of form.
Judo
It was a tough weekend for Ireland’s Ben Fletcher who suffered fractures to his tibia and fibula whilst competing at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam on Saturday. He had surgery during the week at the Cromwell Private Hospital in London, which went well.
Ben’s extensive rehabilitation programme starts immediately, and he is already walking with the aid of crutches.
At the moment Ben is sitting in a comfortable qualifying position in the Men’s -100kg, but will miss out on some key qualifying events.
It will be a waiting game for him to see how other competitors improve, while he is sitting out. While currently sitting within ranking, qualification for Tokyo may be tight, but is not impossible given his status.
Rowing
Ireland’s newest World Champion is Alex Byrne, the young rower who won the World U23 Indoor Championships in a time of 5.55.3.
The Cork rower is on the Irish heavyweight men’s squad, and is the younger brother of World Silver Medallist in the Men’s Double Scull, Ronan Byrne.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo Ireland’s Jack Woolley is currently at a pre-Olympic training camp in Belgrade, Serbia. Jack carded two well fought wins out of two in test matches this week, bringing his February test match total to 4-0.
Next week Jack travels to Sofia, Bulgaria where World Taekwondo has its first World Ranking Open tournament since March 2020, the final event in 2020 was also the Sofia Open where the Tallaght native won gold.
Beijing Updates
On the 4th February 2021 it was exactly one year to go until the Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022, and for Team Ireland athletes targeting qualification, competition is underway across the sports.
Snow Sports
Last weekend, Ireland’s Cormac Comerford achieved a top result with a 23rd place finish in the Men’s Slalom at the Telepass FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2021.
This weekend there is more action for Ireland, with all eyes on the Irish contingent who are competing in the Stora Enso FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, which will include the in form Thomas Maloney-Westgaard.
