Beijing Diary Number 7

Let the action begin. Just picked up the start lists for Friday's competition and only then do you realise the enormity of the challenge event on event. You sure need to be in the form of your life to survive here. Sitting in a small room, only myself a chinese athlete watching the tv. Gearoid Towey the rower on the internet here as well. We briefly discuss his thoughts on the rowing lightweight fours semi final tomorrow in which he competes. Remember he also is one of those guys that has chased a dream forever, as has Eoin Rheinsich the canoeist 4th yesterday from a country that does not have a canoe slalom course. You need to be a special person to overcome those odds.

Talked to Billy Walsh, the boxing coach , on my way in to this area. He was overseeing Paddy Barnes doing a workout in the open in front of our apartment. I remarked you are doing well Billy, to which he responded, "Aye but we have no medals yet", and of course he is right.

Came in here through Tokyo last night, boy that was an ordeal. Turned up at China Airways with my documentation, as did the athletes, but they cannot find Patsy on the roster. The athletes are okay, but what now? Got to get outa here. Ran like never before, boarded a bus to another terminal, the time is getting tight. Now for another option, but there is a Jal flight to Beijing but its going now. Right what gate? Will never forget the number 71, the seconds ticking away and yes got the plane but it came so close, had nearly to chase it down the runway. Relief. What a relief.

Cannot wait now, this waiting is hard to deal with and it's of course a similar story with the athletes. Feel we got the timing of our arrival in here right so should be okay. The athletes mindset changes when he/she arrives in but therein lies the challenge to remain in control not to let this Olympic thing do your head in.

Michael Phelps is the biggest story globally right now but everyone here has a perspective their own personal perspective . Many will leave here fulfilled, others devastated, others with the experience and motivation to put the head down, and for many, in a lonely world train to acheive in London. That's what makes sport such a thrilling exercise, a human dynamic challenge that in my opinion makes the world a better place as these people raise the tempo.

Had an interesting email from Paddy Harte, Raphoe, enquiring about a James Duffy that won the Boston marathon in 1914 in a time of 2-25 01. Incidentally killed in World War II. In 1915 there are two James Duffys on Donegal roll of honour from that period both killed in action. Can anyone shed any light on this? It's an interesting Donegal story if it emerges as such.

When you are away like this you begin to think of the next challenge and for me its to get all at Finn Valley back to training to a routine, in fact those that are serious about the months ahead should begin to log miles right now to get ahead of the opposition. All set for the winter so old and young. Big weekend at Valley with the return of the bikers, hopefully the weather will hold. Last year when I was dealing with the heat in Osaka, back at home it was rain and plenty of it making life difficult. And so as Patsy Mc Gowan would say "talk at you" in a few days as the story begins to unfold.

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

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Beijing Diary Number 6

Last day in Japan. Training complete for today. Just had a table quiz and now rattle out a few thoughts before heading tomorrow morning to the big Smoke -- Beijing.

This was an interesting day that went something like this. The morning session was going to be about 400m runner, Joanne Cuddihy, struggling with injuries for months really. She was going to have a full blown 300m paced by 800m athlete Thomas Chamney and therein would be the answer re:going to the start line. Nervey stuff. She is on the line ... the phone rings ... it's Brendan Mooney of the Examiner enquiring after Joanne's fitness. My answer, "just hold it there on the line and I'll give you the answer in less than a minute ". She attacks, maintains momentum, holds it together and does the business. So Brendan she's in one piece, she starts the race in the Birds nest or as someone else referred to it as the Crows Nest. She is on the plane tomorrow. Delighted for her, its a shame she has lost so much real training time but has cross trained continuously without any indication of frustration from her.

The afternoon session was noteworthy for 2 things. Alistair Cragg who doubles up in both the 1500m and 5k hit out 10 x 200m in 26 seconds low with 90 secs recovery. His head is in a good place just now. Let's pray we can hold the picture for another week. Then there was Derval O Rourke needing to get over the 8 hurdles in aggressive style twice to satisfy her and those anxiously watching. Job done, so the injury situation has as the few lines outlined here indicated improved.

Everybody else in good spirits, unbelievable session and impressive from Paul Hession yesterday. Head down, just let the days roll in. Have decided not to call a general team meeting simply work it one-on-one through the programme. Keep it simple and steady as we go.

Heading into a village that will have changed in a week and will continue to change daily as competition ends for many and while they party we must continue to stay on the focus we have engendered over the past weeks. The morale in the Irish camp will at this point be mixed dependent totally on specific sport results. Have picked up on some of the national media over the weekend. The problem always with the olympics and no doubt this Games will be no different is the media who jump on board chasing the negative story. The same media that generally do not take a bit of interest in your sport in the interim four years. And then there is the guys that report week in week out through the good days and bad days around the globe. Hence the contrast in attitude as you watch the reaction over the period. Hopefully we can provide positive stories. Certainly these athletes have left no stone unturned to do everyone proud.

Heading to bed right now and will arrive Beijing 2200hrs local time tomorrow night. Delighted to be getting on with it. Further updates from inside the village and from the stadium in the days ahead and yes I have seen the result, Harps beating Shamrock Rovers. Good stuff. Have supplied a photo of an occassion when I was obviously under pressure many years ago but tonight I am calm in the knowledge that we could not really have done more to produce performances in these Games. It's been a daily exercise. Let's rush to the start line now.

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

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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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Beijing Diary Number 4

The Beijing Olympic games will begin later tonight with literally a big bang,fireworks that is, as the Chinese launch a spectacular opening ceremony. They have spent $43 billion in preparation for these olympics and are determined that no protesters are going to spoil their party with 100,000 troops on security duty. Rain is expected later in the evening and that may dampen the occassion a little but the action has begun with the soccer men and women in action. From a Donegal point of view Philip Deignan is in action Saturday in the 252.4k road race and that happens out round the Great Wall on a loup circuit. Fingers crossed all goes well for him as he has prepared diligently and will give it his best. (Picture: Alistair Cragg)


All the athletes and support staff are now here with me in Japan. The last members coming in through Tokyo yesterday and all moving along nicely. Headed to do a pool session with Joanne Cuddihy yesterday in this magnificent outdoor 50m facility. That went well and I would be confident now that she will go to the start line in the Birds nest. Everything else was just routine stuff and I am still doing my hour walk each evening from track to team hotel. (Picture: Derval O'Rourke)


When the last event is complete on Sunday August 24, the last Irish competitor being Mullingar man Martin Fagan in the marathon, what will be regarded as a successful Games? You do continually be asked how many medals but really for us it's performances and that could be translated as 3 or 4 making finals and similarly 3 or 4 in semis. That, take it from me would be a class return for athletics in Ireland. To put that in perspective in 2004, one athlete made a final while in 2000 in Sydney Sonia in 5k and Gillian o Sullivan in walk plus national relay records were really the only stand out performances. And so these questions will continue to be asked and only on August 24 will they be unequivally answered. (Picture: Robbie Heffernan )

One of the opportunities that a training camp environment allows is time to catch up between sessions on the internet with emails, unfinished future planning etc. So right now I am finalising the document for the annual primary schools cross-country and secondary school cross at Finn Valley early October. I really enjoy this aspect of the sport as each year a team of volunteers at the club deliver a track/field and cross country event which is well supported by schools around the wider area. (Picture: Michelle Carey)

Smog continues to be a matter of concern in Beijing while the skies were clear last weekend in recent days the National Stadium cannot be seen from nearby roads while at the Great Wall, 40k from the city, there is a greyish haze. This is despite the authorities taking 1 million cars off the road and 100 factories being closed in an attempt to clear the smog. The Chinese insist that the air is safe to breathe. Hopefully it will improve before athletics action begins on Aug 15th.

Further updates on www.finnvalleyac.com

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

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Beijing Diary Number 3

It's interesting to note the daily routine of a training camp pre a major championship. All athletes work their pre planned programmes and you find walkers and distance runners out round the local Paddy fields at 8.30 or indeed there is the option of the local golf club. But as you can understand you must be there and gone by 8 am. (Picture:Fionnaula clearing waterjump).



Visited the track 11am approx today. Eileen O Keefee (pictured) the hammer thrower was doing an intense weight sesssion while Paul Hess and David Gilllick were on the track nothing too serious and add in Rte interviews done and dusted. Back to hotel, lunch and now hitting the computer and the athletes have headed to an electronics shop. I am heading for a walk with Director Of athletics Max Jones to visit local Art Gallery. Back to track at 4.30. All hands on deck then and evening dinner.

David (pictured in gym) has lined up a screen to have us watch the Colin Farrell movie 'In Bruges'. Should be good craic and as important pass valuable time .

This managerial roundabout that I find myself on right now began in 1992 to Soeul to the world junior champs. A journey into the unknown and memorable not only because it was my first major assignment but that I was out of the country at what was to become a defining sports moment for Donegal. Late in the evening local time I went to a phone box to ring my late father. I remember the moment clearly, asking the question, he messing me about delaying the answer pretending not to hear me and then the result really stands out. Rushing upstairs so far from the excitement of home to relay the news to team members who when I think about it now did not give a hoot. Will there ever be a GAA moment in time such as that again. Only the players who now represent the county can answer that.

The journey continued to european ,world, olympic games, world student games, european and world cross etc. in various parts of the globe. Not forgetting European champions cup cross-country with Finn Valley. The first journey to Italy in that context to Cassino with my good friend Peader Mc Granaghan and my son Conor who invariably accompanied me . So many memories but for another day.

The challenge here for this squad is to be the best there has ever been at an olympics based on overall performance. That's what will make it nervy as Aug 15th approaches.

The injury situation continues to improve lets keep our fingers crossed that all is on an upward swing and all athletes are in a position to do themselves justice after years, yes, years of dedicated disciplined preparation.

Its time to hit the road once again to the track on the bus and walk the 4 miles back. Nneed the exercise and I will be back to update in the coming days.

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

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Beijing Diary Number 2

And finally the plane touched down in Izumo having spent the night in an airport hotel in Tokyo. A good nights sleep and the routine of training begins calmly at first to allow for recovery and adaption to heat and humidity but thankfully the injury situation re 2 of the heavy hitters Alistair Cragg and Eileen O Keefee is much improved.


The plan for today, its 9am now, is walkers are already out training and we then head to the sea for a swim. (Picture: Patsy and Alistair) Then back for lunch and then to the track at 4-30 or the weights room dependent on individual training programmes . RTE crews due in at 6-30 and get that off the agenda asap.



Everybody relaxed no unnecessary questions as this is a familar environment having used this area in 2007 pre-Osaka. Where did that year go? We arrived here to a press conference and reception and a friendly welcome and many volunteers available to support our needs .


Its interesting to plot the journey of a sports person to this point in their career mostly similar stories began at a young age stayed with the sport began at a point to dream dreams of one day representing Ireland in the ultimate, the Olympic Games. A unique honour acheiving same and then coming to terms with that and preparing to perform so a certain pressure has to be dealt with and a controlled focus. I gather from this squad just now that we are once again in a good position. Time will tell. (Picture: The Irish swim team)

Was running through the Donegal olympians in my head earlier . Its an interesting study which in some ways reflects the different social challenges of their particular era and the limited opportunity.

Lets begin with the first ,1948 London a train journey for two Inishowen men a Ballyliffin man Patsy McGonagle who had joined the Irish Army a number of years earlier during the Emergency and was at that time a Lieutenant based in Dublin playing soccer with Bohemians. The second Inishowen man Emmet Mc Laughlin from Carndonagh a student at UCD studying medicine playing with the College. Beaten early in the competition finally by Poland back on the train to Holyhead. Both now deceased. Patsy ended his career in the army in Donegal as a Commandant and Emmet emigrated to England.

Its 1952 and Paul Dolan born in Ballyshannon is competing in the 200m out of Clonliffe Harriers as he is by then, as his family is living now in Dublin. He passed away a few years ago.

The other side of the world its 1956 Melbourne remembered of course particularly for that gold winning performance of Ronnie Delaney in 1500m and the local connection boxer Pa Sharkey from Kincasslagh was working in Australia at that time joined the team on their arrival per San Francisco by boat a long long journey. Pa has returned to his native Kincasslagh and the thought strikes me that someone out there should certainly record his memoirs.

Again in 1964 its a boxer its Tokyo its a man who now lives outside Ballybofey Brian Anderson who was in those days boxing from Middle Row ABC, London a man who won both British and Irish titles working as a stone mason now for many years .

There is a long gap then to the olympic marathon of Montreal and Munich and the emergence of a distance runner called Danny Mc Daid from Glenswilly who headed off to Dublin to work and to further improve his athletics joining Clonliffe. Similar to what many of the current crop of Irish athletes have done move to a better training environment. It worked for Danny and its working for this crew. Danny now retired from his employment as a postman in Letterkenny still retains a strong link with his sport.

And now Philip Duignan and Chloe Magee will continue the tradition here in the Far East and possibly like myself in a world many years ago when I crowded into a room with 160 students in 1960 at St Columbs College in Derry to watch the Games from Rome and will John Lawlor an Irish hammer champion on to a medal ,he finished 4th. Hopefully will inspire another generation.

And so another day begins at a training camp in Japan another day that will in time add up to the story of what will become the Beijing Olympics.

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

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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
http://www.finnvalleyac.com

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