It’s the final countdown!

The NICGC had a team get together on the 10th and 11th of September which has brought home how close the XIX commonwealth games are to getting started. Collecting the kit, meeting the other sports officials and competitors and getting talks on final preparations, has brought it home that in exactly three weeks time the athletics events will be underway in the Jawaharial Nehru Stadium.

Next week sees the Athletics Northern Ireland Team head to Portugal for final preparations and a chance to get into competition mode. The athletes and their personal coaches have been given the opportunity to attend a training camp on the Algarve and as the September weather conditions become more and more like winter, the week in the Algarve will assist in the athletes acclimation to Delhi conditions and will allow them and their coaches the final push to get ready for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

I am looking forward to seeing the team, that has a mixture of youth and experience, take on the Commonwealth. It is worthwhile noting that eight of the ten athletes have already taken part in a multi sport competition/championship (European Youth Olympics, World University Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games etc) – so whilst the team may be young they are extremely experienced.

Jackie McKernan- Athletics Team Coach

Also launched is the new NI Commonwealth Games Council website which is currently being developed. A sneak preview is available to view at- http://www.nicgc.org/ . Over the coming days it will provide information relating to athletes, venues, competition schedules etc. You will also be able to keep up to date with the latest news by joining us on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.