Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Brendan Newby will be one of Ireland's two flag bearers, along with Elsa Desmond

Irish Olympic flag bearers speak of pride

Irish athletes Brendan Newby and Elsa Desmond have spoken of their pride at being selected as the country's flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Olympics • 31 Jan 22

Workers clean the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing

Covid cases mount among Olympic athletes and personnel

During the past four days China has detected some 119 cases of Covid-19 among athletes and personnel linked to the Beijing Winter Olympics, with authorities imposing a "closed loop" bubble to keep participants, staff and media separated from the public.

Olympics • 31 Jan 22

Elsa Desmond will compete for Ireland in the luge event at the Winter Olympics

Flying doctor Desmond ready for Beijing experience

Irish luge athlete Elsa Desmond had targeted becoming an Olympic athlete in Milan in 2026, but four years ahead of schedule she will take to the course in Beijing

Olympics • 31 Jan 22

Brendan Newby pictured at the Irish Winter Olympic squad's training base in Austria

Bubba still 'stoked' and ready to soar in Beijing

Irish freestyle skier Brendan Newby is hoping that experience gives him an edge in his second Winter Olympics next month.

Olympics • 27 Jan 22

A snow machine in action at the National Ski Jumping Centre that will host events during the Beijing Winter Olympics

Climate change threatening Winter Games, report warns

Climate change is threatening the Winter Olympics and the future of snow sports by making conditions much more dangerous for athletes and participants, experts warned in a report published a week ahead of the start of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Olympics • 26 Jan 22

Jack Gower is eager to hit the slopes in China

Irish skier Gower targets top 15 finish in Beijing

Irish Olympic alpine skier Jack Gower is targeting a top 15 finish at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing next month and believes he's right on track to peak at the games.

Olympics • 25 Jan 22

From left, Seamus O'Connor, Jack Gower, Thomas Maloney Westgaard, Elsa Desmond, Brendan 'Bubba' Newby and Tess Arbez

Six athletes named in Ireland's Winter Olympic team

Team Ireland has confirmed the six athletes that will represent the country at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing next month.

Olympics • 24 Jan 22

Athletes are being advised to bring new devices to China

Athletes warned to use 'burner phones' in Beijing

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month's Winter Games in Beijing.

Olympics • 20 Jan 22

The human rights organisation is concerned China will pursue 'sportswashing gold' at the Games

Amnesty warns against Beijing 2022 'sportswashing'

Amnesty International has warned delegations from Britain and other countries against becoming "complicit in a propaganda exercise" at next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Olympics • 19 Jan 22

Maggie Rose Carrigan is looking to make her Olympic debut in Beijing

Carrigan beating the odds to chase Winter Games dream

Colorado-born Maggie Rose Carrigan was told as a child that an operation to aid her scoliosis would mean she would likely have to stop snowboarding forever. Now, she's on the cusp of representing Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games.

other sport • 02 Jan 22

The NHL said the current disruption to the competition in the US and Canada made it "impossible" to commit players for the tournament.

NHL won't allow players to compete at Winter Games

The National Hockey League has confirmed it will not send its players to the Beijing Winter Olympics due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Olympics • 22 Dec 21

The Beijing Winter Olympics will go ahead regardless of Covid-19

IOC rules out any postponement for Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has ruled out postponing the Beijing Winter Olympics under any circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

International Olympic Committee • 07 Dec 21

Ireland could be sending their biggest ever team to a Winter Games

The Irish athletes in frame to make the Winter Games

The Beijing Winter Olympics are less than 60 days away. We take a look at who's in the running to make what could be the largest team Ireland has ever sent.

other sport • 07 Dec 21

The Games are due to begin in just over three months time

Beijing Games competitors to face daily Covid-19 tests

Competitors at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be subject to daily tests for Covid-19 and will be required to remain in a closed loop that includes transport between the various games venues, organisers have confirmed.

Olympics • 25 Oct 21

Conor Stakelum will skate to the score of Riverdance as he looks to qualify for the Winter Olympics

Stakelum aims to be lord of the ice in Olympics quest

Conor Stakelum has been selected by the Ice Skating Association of Ireland to represent the country at this season's Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. The musical score of Riverdance will ring out as the Dubliner bids to achieve Olympic qualification in Oberstdorf.

other sport • 02 Sep 21

IOC president Thomas Bach shows the card with the name Milan

Milan awarded the 2026 Winter Olympics

Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have been awarded the 2026 Winter Olympic Games after a vote by the International Olympic Committee membership.

Athletics • 24 Jun 19

Giuseppe Conte is fully behind Italy's 2026 winter games bid

Italian Prime Minister to attend 2026 Olympics vote

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will attend an International Olympic Committee vote on Monday to support Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo's bid to land the 2026 winter Games.

Athletics • 19 Jun 19

The Winter Games were held earlier this year in PyeongChang, South Korea

Calgary, Stockholm and Milan bid for 2026 Winter Games

The cities of Calgary and Stockholm and an Italian bid involving Cortina D'Ampezzo and Milan officially became candidates for the 2026 Winter Olympics today after the International Olympic Committee ratified their bids.

Paris 2024 • 09 Oct 18

David Duncan in action at the Winter Games

Canadian skier arrested for stealing a car

Canadian skier David Duncan was arrested on charges of stealing a car in South Korea, where he was competing at the Winter Olympics, officials and Canadian media said on Saturday.

Paris 2024 • 24 Feb 18

David Duncan was charged with stealing a car in Korea

Canadian Olympian charged with stealing car

Canadian skier David Duncan was arrested on charges of stealing a car in South Korea, where he was competing at the Winter Olympics, Canadian media reported.

Paris 2024 • 24 Feb 18

Nadezhda Sergeeva (right) has admitted to anti-doping violation

Russian bobsledder admits to anti-doping violation

Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva has admitted an anti-doping violation and has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics.

Paris 2024 • 24 Feb 18

Illness forced Thomas Westgard out of the 50k Cross Country Ski

Westgard forced to miss 50k event in Pyeongchang

Ireland's Thomas Westgard has been forced to withdraw from the Men's 50k Cross Country Ski event at the Winter Olympics due to illness.

Paris 2024 • 24 Feb 18

Nadezhda Sergeeva (right) has testing positive for a banned substance

Russian bobsledder tests positive for banned drug

Nadezhda Sergeeva has tested positive for a banned heart drug, the Russian Bobsleigh Federation has announced.

Paris 2024 • 23 Feb 18

Lindsey Vonn fails to finish final Olympic race

Lindsey Vonn failed to finish the women's alpine combined, which is the last race of her Olympic career.

Olympics • 22 Feb 18

Alexander Krushelnitsky has been stripped of the medal

Russian curler stripped of medal

Alexander Krushelnitsky has been stripped of the mixed doubles curling bronze medal won at the Winter Olympics after admitting to using meldonium, the Court of Arbitration for Sport's anti-doping division has announced.

Paris 2024 • 22 Feb 18