Berlin - The End

All over done and dusted. Day 9, a Sunday, a beautiful day, once again an entrralling list of events and now gather up the troops and head for home Monday mid day. Bolt is again the star of the championships and his small country Jamaica picking up 7 gold medals . It was an exciting week on the global stage and on the Irish stage as in short we medalled, had national record, etc Have great hopes and expectations going forward to European champs. in Barcelona next July. What affect will this have on our sport back at home? Hopefully more youngsters coming along to have a go. At local level it's cross country, really enjoyable family days out, team athletics and hopes for success at national level. That kicks off with the schools primary and post primary cross country at Finn Valley late September .

What of Ireland and their plans? Well new blood hopefully will qualify for the Europeans giving the squad a fresh look and in these times, I hate to use the word recessionary but will the support still remain to push our elite squad towards London 2010. The sport is healthy, has seriously talented young kids on board in numbers, so how we deal with them is the question . It takes years years of effort to produce a performance of a serious world level . Take the life of Olive Loughnane who will now be celebrated it was 15 years in the making .

We in Donegal as an organisation probably, no definately, need to focus on our strenghts and weakness and produce a plan and not just produce it, act on it to the benefit of the sport. Top of the list surely meaningful squads doing meaningful work on a regular basis.

John Kelly and Niall Wilkinson joined me yesterday in the warm up to monitor the javelin competitors get ready for the final . This would have provided them with a great boost both of them excellent local coaches back at home anxious to learn and an occassion like this should drive them on .

It's been a horrid year for me. I left Beijing full of energy and enthusiasm ready to impact and support a high performance system going forward. That came to a halt with internal difficulties within our sport at AAI Board level, so again as I leave here I wonder where the journey will take me, what progress can be made? etc. So many ideas, so much enthusiasm, but only time will tell . Berlin has been enjoyable, a success and I leave here tired but pleased with the job done and the attitude and reaction of this Irish squad. My thanks to them to those at home who have consistently supported me . Onwards now to new challenges.

Patsy mc Gonagle
Team Manager
Berlin 2009

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