Chloe Magee and the other Donegal Athletes Brendan Boyce 50k walk, Catriona Jennings Marathon and Patsy Mc Gonagle Athletics Manager, Sharon Madigan nutritionist
FROM PATSY McGONAGLE WITH THE IRELAND OLYMPIC TEAM IN LONDON: It’s beginning to heat up now as continually athletes arrive in camp and to add to that the weather is to put it in Donegal terms ‘class ‘!
It is really important for sessions in the local Bushy Park and Richmond Park plus on the track at St Mary’s which we share with South Africa and China.
Caitriona Jennings is the latest to arrive while Chloe Magee, Brendan Boyce are well settled as is our nutritionist Sharon Madigan from Letterkenny.
Tori Pena arrives today via Germany where she has been finalising preparations.
I’m on the move in a few hours to the village to not only take in the opening ceremony Friday but to check out a few aspects of the weeks ahead and 14 athletes will join me today to also participate in The Parade.
Last evening a reception was held at St Mary’s for the teams and one of the speakers was former student, former world 10,000m record holder David Bedford.
I briefly caught up with him as we were on the same team in 1971/72 in the interim he has been until this year Director of the London Marathon.
Yesterday was particularly busy as I dealt with RTE radio and television around the unfortunate relay 4 x 4 selection outcome and the final word on it which was Catriona Cuddihy appeal to Olympic council being upheld. This team is now as of midday Wednesday in camp.
Have met up with Darren and Grainne O Dea ,Raphoe on a few occassions both living locally working for Pace which Ricky Simms of course heads up.
Ricky in Birmingham yesterday checking all grand with the main man Usain ,the Jamacian team are based there!
The local Teddington community delighted and excited to have an Olympic team base here and are excited not only by that but the fact that the roads round here are being used for the road cycle events and this in tandem with pretty much everything poses logistical and security issues.
Watched the Donegal on a big screen on Sunday specially organised and that had a positive outcome!
Tomorrow is Friday it is then the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games. It seemed so far away some years ago but like everything in life it went to months to weeks and now to days and hours.
The biggest sports show on Earth is about to begin and 4 Donegal athletes and 2 officials are a part of it – the other official is Daniel Magee Badminton manager.
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