Beijing Diary Number 1

One World One Dream is the olympic motto and I arrived into the cauldron of heat and humitity that is Beijing today, August 2. Early in the morning having come in with a party of 9 from Frankfurt . All the waiting, preparing, planning and detail over as we involve ourselves in the greatest sports festival in the world this year here in the Far East .

The trick is to sleep for just an hour yes just the hour and then climb out of the bed and shower and get out there surviving till night to get into the 7 hour difference asap and get the body clock on local time. Got the news Harps beaten -- not so good.

On first impressions this is a really good village complex everything in proximity for athletics. The Birds Nest, the main stadium, is 10 minutes away. Will have a recce early tomorrow before heading to training camp in Japan. No smog, clear sky despite all the chat. Hopefully it will remain so.

Got many texts and good wishes from back at home which I really appreciate and I appreciate the honour it is to be Team Leader at this level once again . My thoughts are with Mark Connolly coach with Ulster team in Grangemouth and he has been texting me results. It's a small world and of course he is the latest Valley person to act in this capacity with representative teams following on from Christine Feeley, Neil Martin,Bernie Alcorn, etc .

The team itself, 16 athletes, all with their own ambitions and Alistair Cragg (5k) left behind to finish treatment on a achilles joining us directly into Japan and Eileen O Keeffe (hammer) struggling with an injury. The pressure is on as it is with Medical student Joanne Cuddihy to be ready to compete . The difference regarding an olympics is the multi sport nature of the Games and no doubt in the weeks ahead television will cover extensively. Our first action is on August 15th and there was a lorry load of RTE people on our plane all travelling to cover same and i expect the sports journalists to arrrive in coming days. The great thing about being away in Japan preparing is that we cut out that demand though I have arranged Greg Allen, radio and TV crew will spend 2 days with us in Matsue to get that aspect out of the equation in a relaxed environment .

Many Irish travelling out as per usual mainly family and close friends underlining the importance of family support the most important aspect of support there is from an early age. We sit around nights talking about this so often when away and whatever the level of involvement the kids love to impress the parents,grandparent so therein lies the message go along and watch your children and maybe one day as a result they will make you feel so proud as olympians representing Ireland. They at a minimum will be better people independent,ambitious disciplined etc . Think about and do something about it by bringing them along on a regular basis to local football,athletics,boxing, whatever and be positive towards same. I see the return with this group here.

Bumped into Philip Duignan on the stairs he sure is ready to rock and while Chloe Magee is in a room 10m from me have not seen her yet .

So as I said I am ready to lead this group glad that it has finally eventually come. Let THE GAMES BEGIN.

Patsy mc Gonagle
Senior/Olympic team manager
Athletics Ireland
0872226112

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