OlympicIRL

The Irish rowing team has been announced: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/06/20/irelands-rowing-team-for-olympics-in-paris-confirmed/

Tokyo’s was my favourite too. It added beautifully to the emotion and I have fond memories of it especially when it came to Ireland’s triumphs.

37 days to go Paris 2024 Olympic Countdown Clock -----------------50------------------------------------ 25------------------------------------ 02----- --------49---------------48------------------27---------------24-------------------04--------------01- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --47--------------------------46-------29---------------------------22-------06--------------------------03 -------------------------------------36-------------------------------------- 16------------------------------- --45-------------------38--43----- 30--33---------------18--21-------08-13------------------ -05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------44--------40---41----------------28--31-------20--23----------------10-11----- ---07--- -----------------42------------------------------------- 26------------------------------------- 09------------- ----------------------39--------------------------32-------19-------------------------- 12----------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------37----------------34-------------------17---------------14------------- ------------------------------------ -35-------------------------------------- 15---------------

The Ireland men’s and women’s rugby sevens squads for Paris have been revealed: https://olympics.ie/official-selection-for-paris-2024-rugby-sevens/

The Ireland men’s and women’s rugby sevens squads for Paris have been revealed: https://olympics.ie/official-selection-for-paris-2024-rugby-sevens/

The Ireland men’s and women’s rugby sevens squads for Paris have been announced: https://olympics.ie/official-selection-for-paris-2024-rugby-sevens/

Team Ireland - Stats Breakdown of Team Members by County Home County Total Athletes Dublin 22 R. Adeleke, N. Comerford, A. Coscoran, R. Dickson, B. Fay, S. Flood, K. Harrington, S. Healy, E.Higgins, H.Keenan, J.Kelly, T.Kennedy, H.Lennox, J. Marley, E. McMahon, G.Mullin, N. Nguyen, M.Roche, A.Smith, S. Waddilove, E. Walshe, J. Woolley Down 6 Susie Berry, Abigail Lyle, Ciara Mageean, Rhys McClenaghan, Zac Ward, Daniel Wiffen Wicklow 5 Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Fionnuala McCormack, Daina Moorehouse, Lucy Rock Antrim 4 Danielle Hill, Ashleigh Orchard, Aiden Walsh, Michaela Walsh Cork 4 Emily Lane, Austin O'Connor, Sophie O'Sullivan, Shane Sweetnam Meath 3 Sarah Ennis, Jennifer Lehane, Cian O'Connor Offaly 3 Megan Burns, Jordan Conroy, Aoife O'Rourke Sligo 2 Dean Clancy, Mona McSharry Tipperary 3 Sharlene Mawdsley, Harry McNulty, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe Carlow 1 Finn Lynch Clare 1 Liam Jegou Derry 1 Daniel Coyle Donegal 1 Mark English Galway 1 Béibhinn Parsons Kildare 1 Noel Hendrick Laois 1 Alanna Fitzpatrick Limerick 1 Sarah Lavin Roscommon 1 Aoife O'Rourke Tyrone 1 Jude Gallagher Other 3 Madison Corcoran (United States), Tom Fannon (England), Chay Mullins (England) Other Stats Statistic Total Athletes Ireland's Olympians - Demographics Oldest Olympian 49 years 10th December 1974 Austin O'Connor Youngest Olympian 19 years Alanna Fitzpatrick Oldest Olympian - Men 49 years 10th December 1974 Austin O'Connor Youngest Olympian - Men 21 years Jack Marley Oldest Olympian - Women 49 years 13th March 1975 Sarah Ennis Youngest Olympian - Women 19 years Alanna Fitzpatrick Average Age - Overall 28.1 years Average Age - Men 28.4 years Average Age - Women 27.9 years Most Olympic Appearances 5 Fionnuala McCormack (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024) Olympic Debutants 30 R.Adeleke, S.Berry, M.Burns, D.Clancy, M.Corcoran, D.Coyle, V.Elmes Kinlan, T.Fannon, B.Fay, A.Fitzpatrick, S.Flood, J.Gallagher, N.Hendrick, H.Keenan, E.King, E.Lane, J.Lehane, A.Lyle, J.Marley, S.Mawdsley, E.McMahon, D.Moorehouse, C.Mullins, A-L.Murphy Crowe, A.Orchard, S.O'Sullivan, L.Rock, A.Smith, G.Walsh, Z.Ward Returning Olympians Appeared at Sydney 2000 1 Austin O'Connor Appeared at Athens 2004 1 Cian O'Connor Appeared at Beijing 2008 2 Fionnuala McCormack, Austin O'Connor Appeared at London 2012 2 Fionnuala McCormack, Cian O'Connor Appeared at Rio 2016 4 Mark English, Finn Lynch, Ciara Mageean, Fionnuala McCormack Appeared at Tokyo 2020 31 J.Conroy, A. Coscoran, R. Dickson, M.English, S.Ennis, K. Harrington, S. Healy, D. Hill, L. Jegou, J.Kelly, T.Kennedy, S. Lavin, H.Lennox, C. Mageean, R. McClenaghan, F. McCormack, H.McNulty, M. McSharry, G.Mullin, N. Nguyen, A. O'Connor, C. O'Connor, M. Roche, A. O'Rourke, S. Sweetnam, S. Waddilove, A.Walsh, M.Walsh, E.Walshe, D.Wiffen, J.Woolley Ireland's Olympians by Geography Born in Republic of Ireland 42 (63.0%) Born in Northern Ireland 12 (20.4%) S.Berry, D.Coyle, J.Gallagher, D.Hill, A.Lyle, C.Mageean, R.McClenaghan, A.Orchard, A.Walsh, M.Walsh, Z.Ward, D.Wiffen Born Abroad 8 (11.1%) Madison Corcoran (United States), Tom Fannon (England), Liam Jegou (France), Erin King (Australia), Harry McNulty (Bahrain), Chay Mullins (England), Nhat Nguyen (Vietnam), Sophie O'Sullivan (Australia) Olympians - Connacht 4 (7.4%) Dean Clancy, Mona McSharry, Aoife O'Rourke, Béibhinn Parsons Olympians - Leinster 35 (50.0%) Olympians - Munster 9 (14.8%) L.Jegou, E.Lane, S.Lavin, S.Mawdsley, H.McNulty, A-L.Murphy Crowe, A.O'Connor, S.O'Sullivan, S.Sweetnam Olympians - Ulster 13 (22.2%) S.Berry, D.Coyle, M.English, J.Gallagher, D.Hill, A.Lyle, C.Mageean, R.McClenaghan, A.Orchard, A.Walsh, M.Walsh, Z.Ward, D.Wiffen

40 days to go We begin lighting up the second ring! Paris 2024 Olympic Countdown Clock -----------------50------------------------------------ 25------------------------------------ 02----- --------49---------------48------------------27---------------24-------------------04--------------01- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --47--------------------------46-------29---------------------------22-------06--------------------------03 -------------------------------------36-------------------------------------- 16------------------------------- --45-------------------38--43----- 30--33---------------18--21-------08-13------------------ -05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------44--------40---41----------------28--31-------20--23----------------10-11----- ---07--- -----------------42------------------------------------- 26------------------------------------- 09------------- ----------------------39--------------------------32-------19-------------------------- 12----------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------37----------------34-------------------17---------------14------------- ------------------------------------ -35-------------------------------------- 15---------------

For sure, I think the casual Irish fan will have very unrealistic expectations this time for the following reasons: Athletics - as you say, they will think we can replicate the same success in the Olympics as we had in Europeans. I do think either one of the relays or Adeleke in the individual will come good, but 1 medal would be a heck of an achievement. Mageean in there too to help give us another outside chance, but that's all it is given how strong the W 1500m field is on the global stage. Rowing - the casual fan will have no idea just how disastrous this season has been for our rowers with injury and illness. Almost our entire squad has suffered in this regard. They will assume the men's LW double just need to turn up to win gold but that's far from the reality this year. I think they will medal but gold is going to be a big task this year. I still think they can do it but for what it's worth but my expectations have seriously dampened. The other Irish crews too are going in as huge underdogs given the turbulent season they have all endured. Boxing - the causal fan will assume we will walk away with more medals, even gold in boxing but there is every possibility we could leave with zero, losing a few quarter-finals. I think we will manage to get 1 or 2 medals but we are not favourites in many of the categories. Swimming - the casual fan will remember Wiffen won 2 golds at the World Championships earlier this year without fully grasping the fact that some of the big stars who beat him last year were absent. I think he will medal at the Olympics but he won't be the gold medal favourite that some could think he is just based off the result at the worlds. Gymnastics - Rhys McClenaghan is two-time back to back world champion in men's pommel so he must be set to win a medal in Paris. Yeah, it doesn't work like that at all and he has serious rivals to contend with not to mention the fact that one tiny error could cost you even a place in the final. I think overall we have so many chances this year, it would be disastrous if we finished with under 5 medals. And yet as hardened Irish Olympic fans, we know that is still a very realistic possibility

Full List of Team Ireland Members Athlete Sport Age Olympic Appearances Home County Rhasidat Adeleke Athletics 21 1 Dublin Kathy Baker Rugby Sevens 26 1 ? Susie Berry Equestrian 28 1 Down Megan Burns Rugby Sevens 24 1 Offaly Dean Clancy Boxing 22 1 Sligo Niall Comerford Rugby Sevens 24 1 Dublin Jordan Conroy Rugby Sevens 30 2 Offaly Madison Corcoran Canoe Slalom 21 1 Born in United States Andrew Coscoran Athletics 27 2 Dublin Daniel Coyle Equestrian 29 1 Derry Robert Dickson Sailing 26 2 Dublin Vicky Elmes Kinlan Rugby Sevens 21 1 Wicklow Mark English Athletics 31 3 Donegal Sarah Ennis Equestrian 49 2 Meath Tom Fannon Swimming 26 1 Born in England Brian Fay Athletics 25 1 Dublin Alanna Fitzpatrick Rugby Sevens 19 1 Laois Stacey Flood Rugby Sevens 27 1 Dublin Jude Gallagher Boxing 22 1 Tyrone Kellie Harrington Boxing 34 2 Dublin Sarah Healy Athletics 23 2 Dublin Noel Hendrick Canoe Slalom 26 1 Kildare Eve Higgins Rugby Sevens 25 1 Dublin Danielle Hill Swimming 24 2 Antrim Liam Jegou Canoe Slalom 28 2 Clare (born France) Hugo Keenan Rugby Sevens 28 1 Dublin Jack Kelly Rugby Sevens 26 2 Dublin Terry Kennedy Rugby Sevens 28 2 Dublin Erin King Rugby Sevens 20 1 Wicklow (born Australia) Emily Lane Rugby Sevens 25 1 Cork Sarah Lavin Athletics 30 2 Limerick Jennifer Lehane Boxing 25 1 Meath Hugo Lennox Rugby Sevens 25 2 Dublin Abigail Lyle Equestrian 39 1 Down Finn Lynch Sailing 28 2 Carlow Ciara Mageean Athletics 32 3 Down Jack Marley Boxing 21 1 Dublin Sharlene Mawdsley Athletics 25 1 Tipperary Rhys McClenaghan Artistic Gymnastics 25 2 Down Fionnuala McCormack Athletics 39 5 Wicklow Eve McMahon Sailing 20 1 Dublin Harry McNulty Rugby Sevens 31 2 Tipperary (born in Bahrain) Mona McSharry Swimming 23 2 Sligo Daina Moorehouse Boxing 22 1 Wicklow Gavin Mullin Rugby Sevens 26 2 Dublin Chay Mullins Rugby Sevens 22 1 Born in England Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe Rugby Sevens 29 1 Tipperary Nhat Nguyen Badminton 24 2 Dublin (born Vietnam) Ashleigh Orchard Rugby Sevens 32 1 Antrim Austin O'Connor Equestrian 49 4 2000, 2008, 2020, 2024 Cork Cian O'Connor Equestrian 44 4 2004, 2012, 2020, 2024 Meath Aoife O'Rourke Boxing 27 2 Roscommon Sophie O'Sullivan Athletics 22 1 Cork (born Australia) Béibhinn Parsons Rugby Sevens 22 1 Galway Mark Roche Rugby Sevens 31 2 Dublin Lucy Rock Rugby Sevens 30 1 Wicklow Andrew Smith Rugby Sevens 24 1 Dublin Shane Sweetnam Equestrian 43 2 Cork Sean Waddilove Sailing 27 2 Dublin Aidan Walsh Boxing 27 2 Antrim Gráinne Walsh Boxing 28 1 Offaly Michaela Walsh Boxing 31 2 Antrim Ellen Walshe Swimming 22 2 Dublin Zac Ward Rugby Sevens 25 1 Down Daniel Wiffen Swimming 23 2 Down Jack Woolley Taekwondo 25 2 Dublin

This thread will be used to list the profiles of each member of Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

And as I said before, I think Lillehammer 1994 is the best of all the OBS intros (Summer or Winter). OBS Intro - Lillehammer 1994

And here are some of the BBC Winter Olympic intros: BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Lake Placid 1980 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Calgary 1988 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Albertville 1992 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Lillehammer 1994 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Nagano 1998 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Vancouver 2010 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Sochi 2014 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Pyeongchang 2018 BBC Winter Olympic Intro - Beijing 2022

Sadly these are the only 2 ones I can find from Irish broadcaster RTÉ. They are not bad given the obvious lack of budget within RTÉ . Also in the last 2 Olympics they used the OBS intro so it could be they gave up on creating their own versions which is a shame . My favourite was Atlanta 1996 when they used Enigma - Return to Innocence as the theme. To this day that song still reminds me of Atlanta 1996 . But like I say, I can't find it online. RTÉ Olympic Intro - Beijing 2008 RTÉ Olympic Intro - London 2012

My top 3 would be: 1. London 2012 - the music is just astonishingly good and it gives me chills each time from the nostalgia. I remember watching all those Olympic channels on the BBC Red button during the Olympics and the music played on a loop there as well. 2. Barcelona 1992 3. Sydney 2000 Love so many of them as well. The Tokyo 1964 music is so addictive as well

I really like the music. Watching back the Olympic replays where it plays a longer loop of this music while showing the replay of the event always gives me good vibes. I'm still not too fond of the animation of the actual intro but like I said, it has now become nostalgic for me Sydney 2000 for me is probably the best in terms of music and graphics combined. It was created with a lot of inspiration and is cleverly done. And Seoul 1988 I just love personally. There are many good ones though. I will post the Winter Olympic intros later as well. Lillehammer 1994 is the absolute top of them all (Summer or Winter).

No I don't believe it has been released yet. And here is a list of OBS intros from the past. Many good ones here too. I have a soft spot for Seoul 1988, not sure why but just love the music and the animation at the beginning. Beijing 2008 was the worst by far, someone was lacking inspiration when creating that . I was initially so disappointed with the Tokyo 2020 intro when it was released but it grew on me since it reminds me of good nostalgia of staying up nights to watch the Olympics OBS Olympic Intro - Moscow 1980 OBS Olympic Intro - Seoul 1988 OBS Olympic Intro - Barcelona 1992 OBS Olympic Intro - Atlanta 1996 OBS Olympic Intro - Sydney 2000 OBS Olympic Intro - Athens 2004 OBS Olympic Intro - Beijing 2008 OBS Olympic Intro - London 2012 OBS Olympic Intro - Rio 2016 OBS Olympic Intro - Tokyo 2020

As always, to help us countdown towards the Opening Ceremony, I will post some nostalgic TV intro of Olympic coverage. Please also post similar Olympic TV broadcast intros you have from your countries too. Firstly, some of the BBC Olympic intros from over the years. Which ones from these do you like and why? BBC Olympic Intro (Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972) BBC Olympic Intro - Moscow 1980 BBC Olympic Intro - Los Angeles 1984 BBC Olympic Intro - Seoul 1988 BBC Olympic Intro - Barcelona 1992 BBC Olympic Intro - Atlanta 1996 BBC Olympic Intro - Sydney 2000 BBC Olympic Intro - Athens 2004 BBC Olympic Intro - Beijing 2008: BBC Olympic Intro - London 2012 BBC Olympic Intro - Rio 2016 BBC Olympic Intro - Tokyo 2020

41 days to go The first ring is complete!!! Paris 2024 Olympic Countdown Clock -----------------50------------------------------------ 25------------------------------------ 02----- --------49---------------48------------------27---------------24-------------------04--------------01- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --47--------------------------46-------29---------------------------22-------06--------------------------03 -------------------------------------36-------------------------------------- 16------------------------------- --45-------------------38--43----- 30--33---------------18--21-------08-13------------------ -05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------44--------40---41----------------28--31-------20--23----------------10-11----- ---07--- -----------------42------------------------------------- 26------------------------------------- 09------------- ----------------------39--------------------------32-------19-------------------------- 12----------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------37----------------34-------------------17---------------14------------- ------------------------------------ -35-------------------------------------- 15---------------

That never really worked for Ireland over the years.... more like divide it by 6

For Ireland, we go into the Olympics with a lot of hope and with more medal chances than I can ever remember, but not so many nailed on favourites this time and golds look like they could be hard to come by. Here is a run down of some medal contenders and then I listed overall predictions below. I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on these: Athletics: Medal Contenders: Adeleke (W 400m), Mageean (W 1500m), (Mx 4x400m), (W 4x400m) Optimistic: 2-3 medals Realistic: 1 medal Pessimistic: 0 medals Boxing: Medal Contenders: All 10 of them, with a kind draw and a bit of luck and skill, any qualified boxer could sneak a bronze. Biggest contenders IMO are O'Rourke (W 75), Harrington (W 60), Walsh (W 66), Moorehouse (W 50), Gallagher (M 57), Marley (M 92) Optimistic: 3+ medals Realistic: 2 medals Pessimistic: 0-1 medals (1 medal is kind of between realistic and pessimistic for me. I think given we have 10 boxers qualified, I am hoping 2 can medal). Cycling Road: Medal Contenders: Ben Healy (M Road Race) Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0 medals Pessimistic: 0 medals Cycling Track: Medal Contenders: Lara Gillespie (W Omnium) Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0 medals Pessimistic: 0 medals Equestrian: Medal Contenders: Showjumping Team and Individuals, Eventing Team and Individuals Optimistic: 1+ medals Realistic: 0 medals (could have said 1 for this as well but just by usual Olympic form for us I am going for 0 again) Pessimistic: 0 medals Golf: Medal Contenders: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Leona Maguire Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0 medals Pessimistic: 0 medals Artistic Gymnastics: Medal Contenders: Rhys McClenaghan (M Pommel) Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0-1 medal (for Rhys it really is touch and go given the small margins between glory and failure in this sport). Pessimistic: 0 medals Rowing: Medal Contenders: M Lightweight Double, M Double, W Pair, W Lightweight Double, W Double Optimistic: 2+ medals Realistic: 1-2 medals (more towards 1 than 2 tbh) Pessimistic: 0 medals Rugby Sevens: Medal Contenders: Men's Team, Women's Team (definitely the men with way more chance than the women). Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0 medals (going with 0 here as although the men have every chance, just think there's more scenarios where they don't medal than they do). Pessimistic: 0 medals Swimming: Medal Contenders: Daniel Wiffen (M 800m Freestyle, M 1500m Freestyle) Optimistic: 2 medals Realistic: 1 medal Pessimistic: 0 medals Taekwondo: Medal Contenders: Jack Woolley (M 58)... a very outside chance, but you never know, he could sneak a bronze. Optimistic: 1 medal Realistic: 0 medals Pessimistic: 0 medals Overall Medal Predictions: Optimistic: 8+ medals Realistic: 5-7 medals Pessimistic: 0-4 medals Overall Gold Predictions: Optimistic: 2+ Gold medals Realistic: 1-2 Gold medals Pessimistic: 0 Gold medals My bold prediction is we win 1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze

42 days to go Paris 2024 Olympic Countdown Clock -----------------50------------------------------------ 25------------------------------------ 02----- --------49---------------48------------------27---------------24-------------------04--------------01- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --47--------------------------46-------29---------------------------22-------06--------------------------03 -------------------------------------36-------------------------------------- 16------------------------------- --45-------------------38--43----- 30--33---------------18--21-------08-13------------------ -05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------44--------40---41----------------28--31-------20--23----------------10-11----- ---07--- -----------------42------------------------------------- 26------------------------------------- 09------------- ----------------------39--------------------------32-------19-------------------------- 12----------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------37----------------34-------------------17---------------14------------- ------------------------------------ -35-------------------------------------- 15---------------

Nicola Tuthill up to 28th place now in the Road to Paris rankings (32 quotas available). Fingers crossed she will make it to Paris now

Gajanová

Mawdsley Another medal, just incredible for us