OFI BASKING IN A GOLDEN GLOW
THERE was the sense of a new start for the Irish Olympic movement yesterday as the rebranded Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) enlisted the help of Ireland’s latest world champions, Gary and Paul O’Donovan, to unveil the first of their new sponsors in FBD insurance. For an organisation trying to escape the toxicity of its previous incarnation, the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), there are no better poster boys than the charming brothers from West Cork, who just last week took home gold from the Rowing World Championships in Bulgaria. The name change, which has come with a new logo and brand, may seem cosmetic but it is significant as it underlines that Olympic sport in this country is breaking away from former president Pat Hickey’s rule of almost three decades, an era that came to an unedifying end during the 2016 Games in Rio when he was charged with ticket touting, a case that has yet to reach its conclusion in Brazil. Athletes have been careful to sidestep any fallout from that controversy. ‘It never enters our head, to be honest,’ said Paul. ‘Our job is to just go out and do the rowing. We don’t care so much what’s going on in the background.’ Still, the OFI are making a fresh start at the most opportune time. This year has been a remarkable one for Irish sport. The women’s hockey team reaching the World Cup final, world rowing golds for the O’Donovans and Sanita Puspure, and the Ireland Equestrian team claiming silver medals at the world games last week, securing qualification for Tokyo. With more than 50 medals secured over a number of different sports this year, it is clear that Irish sport is on a high.