Commonwealth Games hopes
The final countdown is under way for Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth Games team.
Northern Ireland’s 80-strong Commonwealth Games team is counting down to Delhi, where the contest runs from 3-14 October. Held every four years, the games see 71 nations compete across 17 sports and four para-sports, for disabled athletes. India, home to 1.17 billion of the Commonwealth’s 2.1 billion citizens, is hosting the games for the first time.
The province has accumulated 91 medals, 24 gold, since the competition was founded in 1930. Its tally at the 2006 Melbourne Games was two silvers, for the men’s triples bowls team and clay pigeon shooter David Beattie.
“I am really looking forward to going to Delhi, we were there in February for the Commonwealth Shoot and we were bowled over by the people,” David remarked. “They are so friendly and at ease with one another, they enjoy life so much, even though some of them have nothing, so it will be great to go again and take in their culture.”
This time round, Northern Ireland athletes will participate in twelve sports (see list) with the team combining experience with new talent.
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Bowls
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Shooting
- Squash
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Wrestling
Seasoned participants include two-time Olympian swimmer Andrew Bree, triple bowler Neil Booth and fullbore shooter David Calvert, making his ninth Commonwealth appearance.
Sprinter Amy Foster will race over 100m after a string of good performances this season, including wins in the Northern Ireland and English AAA Championships. Eighteen- year old Portaferry athlete Ciara Mageean will run the 1500m after clinching a World Junior Championship silver with 4:09.51.
“All her friends have turned 18 over the last year or so and Ciara did as well but she had to miss out on all the birthday parties and the socialising and in fact, doing the things that normal teenagers do,” said coach Eamon Christie.
“She has been absolutely tremendous and is already a role model for other young athletes.”
Banbridge archer Mark Nesbitt (17), who qualifies in the gent’s team and individual recurve division, says it is “fantastic” to put on the Northern Ireland vest at any competition “but to do it at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi will be an amazing honour.”
