2013 is only a few days old, and the 2016 Olympics is already heavily in focus. With the end of December seeing the controversial funding decisions from UK Sport for the next Olympic cycle, who appear to have abandoned about their legacy plans, and Thursday saw some interesting news regarding Northern Irish athletes in Hockey and Golf.
Rory McIlroy is clearly the big name in Golf at the moment, has had a lot of the attention which should be centred on his brilliant form (and girlfriend) diverted towards his allegiance when it comes to the Rio games.
McIlroy revealed to BBC that he may not play in the next Olympics, admitting that it could be the only way to avoid upsetting a lot of people.
Though it is certain that McIlroy representing GB at Rio would disappoint many Irish Golf and sport fans, the same disappointment probably would not be voiced in a reverse decision.
Perhaps this is due to Ireland being a nation of very few potential Olympic medallists, and GB having a pick of four other qualified athletes in the Top 15 of the World rankings, including another Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell.
McDowell’s case has not been under nearly as much scrutiny, probably because he and many others realise that 2016 is a long way away, and he may not even be in such a position when the decision has to be made.
While no decisions have to be made for the Northern Irish golfers, two Hockey players have made the decision to leave the Ireland national team to declare for England, making them available for England and GB three years after their last Ireland appearance.
David Ames insists he is happy to be labelled selfish after switching allegiance from Ireland’s hockey team those of England and Great Britain in order to fulfil his international goals.
Iain Lewers and Mark Gleghorn have both previously switched allegiances, with Lewers playing for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, while Ian Sloan is following suit with Ames who has made 64 appearances for Ireland.
Ames admitted that “it may seem a very selfish move but unfortunately competing at international level doesn’t last too long in a player’s life time,” an interesting thing to say after cutting two and a half years off one’s international career.
The switches will come as a large blow to Ireland hockey, who after coming so close to reaching London 2012, and fighting for financial backing to continue at a high level, will have to plough on without two more talented players.
David Ames is happy to accept being labelled selfish after his move to England/GB who he will not be eligible for until 2015. Photo: Eurosport
This is not unfamiliar to Irish Cricket fans, who lost Ed Joyce (only to come back after not quite making the grade) and Eoin Morgan´to England, in search of an international Test career, and talented young players such as George Dockrell and Paul Stirling may also have a choice to make some day.
Whether the gamble will pay off for Ames and Sloan, only time will tell, they needed to make their decision now, and they did.
As this Olympic cycle gets underway, there will certainly be more stories of athletes moving to and from their allegiance to Ireland as they figure out the best way to the 2016 Olympics.
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