Beijing Diary Number 5

Its 9pm Saturday night just in the door having watched a fireworks display immediately in front of our hotel to celebrate their annual Summer festival here in Matsue attended by literally thousands mainly family groups and young people. And guess what not a lager lout nor indeed anyone drinking on the street. Contrast that with Ireland. It will be a vivid memory when I look back at my time here the noticeable behaviour and respect that is engendered throughout all facets of society. You are reminded of this on a daily basis, such is the lifestyle and expected behaviour norm. Interesting to watch a group of some 30 young boys, age about ten, all dressed in their team baseball kit who came along to watch our training yesterday and they obviously appreciated the opportunity.

Alistair Cragg hammered out a track session in spikes this afternoon and is ready to approach the challenge in good positive spirits after an earlier injury scare 10 days ago. He will double up taking in the 1500m in addition to his main event the 5k. The thinking being to introduce him to the competition routine from the off. As in previous championships he tended to lose focus in the vital days prior to the race. Hence he is on the plane with me Tuesday into Beijing, the first batch of Track and field to return to the Olympic venue having enjoyed a short stop over days ago.

Martin Fagan is on the roads round the Paddy fields in the morning to rattle out a 22 mile run accompanied by his coach Greg Mc Millan from their training base in Flagstaff, Arizona. I am pleased Greg has accepted the invitation to join Martin here as his wife has just had a baby. He is excited about being here being part of the final few days and he has his bike all set to go in the morning. Earlier today Rob Heffernan was round the same Paddy fields to churn out a 20k. All good with him.

All sports are similar in that they come down to one moment in time and that moment is now. Just days away and the talk has changed now to results of Irish competitors. Everyone adds to the story as the hours pass, as all are on their computers watching and reading the latest as it comes out from China. It's interesting how conversations start, change, etc. in a group situation such as this. Breakfast this morning all chewing away then someone sits down and relays that Goussis, a 200m Greek, has been caught cheating taking drugs. Everybody knew anyway but catching him thats the bonus. Our interest? It's the event Paul Hession takes in and in which he is a strong challenger. For a brief moment the talk is of drugs but that is unusual cause Irish athletes tend to avoid long discussion on this topic, because it's something you have no control over and the thought pattern you can only control what you yourself do so stick to the training programme and see where it takes you.

I have attached a 1984 photo of a group of Finn Valley athletes taken after a team competition in Edinburgh just to underline that my thoughts are very much with those that continually work with me and for Finn Valley building a tradition decade on decade and creating a certain pride. Look out for Neil Martin in the shot, an athlete who came on board in the very beginning in the seventies as an excellent cross-country competitor and is still there religiously to this day. How many of the faces do you recognise. (Post your comments below.)

And some how it's the same with Irelands involvement with the olympics. Names that are legends and will live forever - Treacy, OSullivan, Delaney, O Callaghan, Tisdall and the first woman to represent Ireland ever in athletics Maeve Kyle back in 1956 in Melbourne. This group heading to bed tonight in Japan are now ready to carry the message to another generation and what is really encouraging is the atmosphere here as good as if not better than pre Osaka in 2007. Will catch up with you all before I hit the road Tuesday and then the reports come from the olympic city.

The news has just come in that Chloe Magee from Raphoe has won her Badminton match versus the Estonian. A really close result indicating the tough competitive nature of the 19 year old. She is now in the last 32. Great result.

Patsy Mc Gonagle
Senior/Olympic team manager
Athletics Ireland
0872226112
http://www.finnvalleyac.com

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