At last week's Leinster meeting it was agreed to send a team of 12 athletes (6 male, 6 female) to this year's CSIT Games in Lignano, Italy between 7th and 14th June.
 
The proposal is that the team will be predominantly made up of young (Junior and under 23) athletes on the cusp of International careers who will benefit from the experience of a week-long International games in a sports village environment. In addition there will be one experienced athlete who will act as Mentor for the younger group and will be nominated Team Captain. The team will be accompanied by two officials as agreed at the Leinster meeting.
 
The standard of the CSIT Games in the past has been roughly between Provincial and National Championship medallists, and this is the standard we are seeking, though we won't rule out an athlete of obvious outstanding potential.
 
Athletes should not be current or recent Internationals, or have represented Ireland at European, World, or Olympic Games within the past 4 years.
 
Selection will be made by 1st May and will be nominated to the organising committee of CSIT on May 5th. As well as the 12 athletes selected, a number of substitutes will be identified who will travel in the event of any of the selected being unable to compete due to injury, illness etc. Athletes selected are expected to have shown good form in 2015, and there are a number of competitive opportunities in the next two months for anybody to show what they can do; where there is doubt an athlete may be asked to show form at either Leevale Sports (18/04), Thomond Games (25/04) or one of a number of events in May. All selected will be asked for assurance of fitness; if an athlete travels and cannot compete because of an injury or illness which was obviously incurred some time previously the athlete will be expected to reimburse the cost of the trip which is around €1,000.
 
All track & field disciplines will be considered, but athletes must present an Irish passport to be selected.
Athletes on scholarship to Third Level institutions should be considered as attached to their original clubs, this also includes those on scholarship with or registered with UCD.
 
The Games will be held under the supervision of WADA appointed Doping Control and athletes attending must sign a declaration of willingness to undertake testing in advance: in addition a declaration of good behaviour will be requested in advance. In the case of athletes aged 18 or younger the declarations must be signed by a parent or guardian.
 
We are asking each County Board to provide nominations from their clubs who may be considered for selection, together with a short resume of their career to date. Final selection will be made in early May, but we ask Co Boards to let us have their suggestions by 5th April at the latest. Consideration will be given to all suggestions, but we cannot promise to select any individual recommended. Brian Dowling is the contact person - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.