RELIEF AS GOVERNMENT EASES TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

ATHLETES from 21 sports will be permitted to travel beyond the 20km limit to designated training centres from

Monday.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland last night welcomed the Government’s decision to facilitate the return of high performance athletes who hope to compete at the Tokyo Olympics to the centres.

Elite athletes are now encouraged to work with their national governing bodies, performance directors and Sport Ireland to fully understand individual guidelines for sports.

“We are delighted to see athletes and sports return to their training centres and know that this will bring relief to the many athletes who can get back to their job of preparing for the Olympic Games next year,” said Team

Ireland’s Chef de Mission in Tokyo, Tricia Heberle (left).

“I would like to thank Sport Ireland, the Sport Ireland Institute and all the national governing bodies for the work that they have put into getting us to this point.”

Sports Minister Shane Ross (inset) said: “I am pleased that we have been able to facilitate a return to training activity for these high performance athletes and teams, especially for the members of Team Ireland. 2020 was to be the pinnacle of their sporting career, but instead they have endured huge disappointment and massive uncertainty.

“These past weeks have been particularly challenging for everybody concerned.

“Athletes have sought to maintain their fitness and focus while training at home but that is no substitute for the benefit of using the special training facilities available in dedicated training centres.

“I am delighted that we can now match the practice elsewhere in Europe and permit athletes to return to training at their national training centres.”