Sydney Review

Download

• Sydney Review

Please Note: The document above is a PDF format.
Appropriate software can be downloaded free. Download free software

The Sydney Review Steering Group was established by the Irish Sports Council at the request of the Minister of Tourism, Sport and Recreation to review all aspects of Ireland's participation in the Sydney Olympics, made 29 recommendations which can make "a real difference" to athletes preparing for Athens 2004 and beyond.

The recommendations were phased over four specific time periods, the first beginning in March 2001 through to the fourth phase which commenced in April 2002 and continued up until Athens.

The recommendations flowed out of a comprehensive series of meetings, interviews and research findings which were conducted over a two month period from December 2000 to January 2001 and which formed the basis of a 61 page report. The Report was presented to Minister Jim McDaid TD on 31 January 2001.

Speaking at the Press Conference Minister McDaid said

• "This final report is an invaluable and objective analysis of the Sydney experience which will make an important contribution to our planning for future major events. What we must do is focus on the comprehensive recommendations in the report to plan for the future. I urge everybody to focus on the positive aspects of this review and the implementation of recommendations that will have a lasting and beneficial effect on Irish sport.
• The Report outlines a strategic approach which we believe can lead to significant improvement in the performance of our athletes in Athens 2004 and beyond."

says Finbar Costello, Chairman of the Review Steering Group in his foreword to the Report.

• "Prompt and decisive action is necessary if we are to begin a new era. It must in all cases centre on the athlete.

All the parties with roles to play in maximising Ireland's performance must work as a team and leave behind the difficulties that have bedevilled their efforts in the past. What is involved now is a complete culture change. It will require considerable planning, careful management as well as extensive negotiation and co-operation based on a clear statement of roles and representatives."

The Steering Group was established by the Irish Sports Council after the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Dr. James McDaid TD requested the ISC to undertake an in depth review of Ireland's preparation for and participation in the Sydney Olympics when Ireland were placed 64th out of a total of 80 medal winning Nations.

The Minister sought that the Review should have a particular focus on the relationships that exist between the various bodies and agencies involved in the preparation and participation of the team. He asked that all relevant bodies and agencies contribute to the review and looked forward to the review resulting in "positive and constructive outcomes that will lead to an improvement in the future Olympic performance of our competitors".

The Irish Sports Council appointed a Steering Group with Mr. Costello, Chairman of the UCD Sports Development Trust as independent Chairman to oversee the review process. Consultants from Leisure Partners Limited, who were central to putting in place Team Great Britain's structures for the Sydney Games, were appointed to undertake the primary research and analysis.

In addition to Mr. Costello, the members of the Steering Group were:

• John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council
• Ann Tate, Provost of Jordanstown, University of Ulster and Member of the Irish Sports Council
• Neville Maxwell, International power and participant at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

From December 2000 to January 2001 Leisure Partners carried out a comprehensive interview process with key personnel directly involved or affected by the Irish Olympic preparation. The consultants also undertook a thorough 'desk study' of existing documentation in order to give the Steering Committee a full and, crucially, an impartial understanding of the various factors impacting on Ireland's Olympic support mechanisms, as well as ensuring that it was in possession of the latest information to support its appraisal findings.

In reflecting on the work of Leisure Partners, the Steering Group declared:

• "The key component of the Report is that it is athlete centred. The Report is ambitious and sets out clearly a new vision for the most comprehensive overhaul of the systems and structures impacting upon Ireland's preparation for Olympic Games. The proposals will ensure Ireland's Olympic athletes are better prepared than ever before to compete at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004"

The Report of the Steering Group contains a comprehensive assessment of Ireland's current system of high performance support - its strengths, and weaknesses, compared to the major competitors around the world. In particular a focus of attention has been those countries that have either improved or performed well at recent Games - Spain (1992), Great Britain (2000), or have consistently performed well over a number of Olympiads - Germany.
It analyses the performance of Ireland at successive Olympic Games, evidenced over the past five Olympiads, and provides a realistic assessment of Ireland's current position in competition.

It has as its core the requirement for the key agencies to communicate and co-operate effectively with each other to support the individual performer. In this respect it demonstrates that the key agencies must embrace the cultural shift that implementing the Steering Group recommendations will require.
The Report lists twenty-nine key recommendations where, in the words of the Steering Group, co-operation and implementation can make a real difference to the athletes preparing for Athens 2004, 2008 and beyond. "Some are quite simple, others will require careful planning and thought, but all are recommendations that are structural, attitudinal, will make a world class difference, and are designed to develop Irish Olympic athletes as some of the best prepared in the world"

Said the Steering Group;

It is therefore recommended that in Phase 1: March - April 2001

1. The ISC convenes a meeting with the key agencies as a matter of priority to agree and adopt the vision and recommendations encapsulated in this Sydney review.
2. The enormous potential of working together is realised by the ISC, OCI and NCTC, and the NGBs in a co-ordinated programme for the athletes representing Ireland in the Athens Games and beyond.
3. The ISC establish and drive the High Performance Committee with support from the OCI and the NCTC.
4. Networked sports science and medicine services for athletes should be a key focus of the High Performance Committee, particularly linking Dublin and the emerging United Kingdom Sports Institute in Belfast
5. The NCTC should have a review of its functions and services carried out by the ISC.
6. National Governing Bodies of Sport should undertake, with support from the ISC, to produce athlete focused Performance Plans for their organisations. It is therefore recommended that in Phase 2 : May - September 2001
7. The OCI undertake a review of all aspects of its role, constitution, and administrative structures to ensure transparency in its operation.
8. The OCI should be provided with partnership funding to assist in developing a more professional approach in their operations.
9. An athlete centred quadrennial plan for the 2004 Athens Olympics is agreed and published by the OCI with the support of the NCTC and the ISC.
10. A 'road map' to Athens is rolled out detailing all key events and services to the NGBs, which is to be revised quarterly.
11. The ISC and NGBs consider the employment of performance coaches as a matter of some urgency focusing on medal potential sports.
12. National Governing Bodies should assist and inform the media to ensure that the 'management of expectation' strategy advocated for each Games is embraced.
13. The International Carding Scheme and funding to Olympic sports should be reviewed as a matter of urgency by the ISC.
14. A medical / science-working group is established by the OCI with support from the ISC and NCTC to consider the challenging environmental and climatic conditions for Athens.
15. A feasibility project for a Holding Camp in Athens 2004 should by undertaken as a matter of urgency, led by the OCI with support from the ISC and NCTC.
16. The OCI Athletes Commission with the Athletes Forum should consider a range of 'lifestyle' services for immediate delivery to athletes.
17. Clear lines of communication should be put in place with Irish athletes based abroad (25%), and these should be networked to access services. It is recommended that in Phase 3 : October 2001 - March 2002
18. Performance Plans for selected Irish sports should be developed with clear talent identification and development programmes, to help them achieve Olympic Qualifying Standards.
19. The OCI, supported by the ISC and NCTC, should produce quarterly athlete and governing body newsletters to ensure communication of key information.
20. Olympic Qualifying Standards should be negotiated early in the Olympic cycle and agreed and signed by the OCI with each sport, and communicated to all athletes.
21. The Team parade, training, and competition kit should be managed professionally with input from the athletes, to ensure it maximises performance in competition, and is smart and comfortable and 'fit for purpose'.
22. The Athens Village HQ staff should be selected by the OCI with input from the NGBs based on ability and experience matched against job descriptions, functions and responsibilities. A programme of professional training should underpin this.
23. Team Managers should be nominated by the NGBs and approved by the OCI early in the Olympic cycle. Programmes for Athens should have a more professional focus.
24. Annual multi-sport training camps should be organised by the OCI, NCTC and ISC to prepare athletes for the Olympic Village. It is recommended that in Phase 4 : March 2002 - Athens 2004
25. Realistic levels of expectation are set for the Irish team through a media campaign developed by the OCI with support from the ISC.
26. Support staff should be nominated by sports to attend future Holding Camps to ensure continuity of care for athletes.
27. The allocation of accreditations by the OCI must be fully transparent with the primary focus of ensuring the needs of athletes are met.
28. Regular Team Managers meetings should be held where possible at the Olympic Village to enhance communication.
29. The strategy for the Irish Hospitality Suite needs to be rethought focusing on the requirements of the athlete.