Ireland have been perennial underachievers at the Olympics

TYNAN'S TAKE: By Stuart Tynan

UNLESS you have been living under a rock for the past week or so, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are underway following its postponement last year due to the Covid pandemic.

I haven't been able to watch as much as I would like, partially down other sports taking up my time and live coverage of the games being mostly on night due to the Games being on the other side of the world. But from what I have taken in so far it has been an enjoyable experience, although the absence of crowds in Tokyo, Fukushima and Hokkaido have taken away some of the magical atmosphere only the Olympics can provide.

So far (I'm writing this on Friday afternoon last), Ireland have had a solid start to the Games to date. Paul O'Donovan went one better from his silver at Rio 2016 to capture gold in the men's lightweight double sculls rowing alongside partner Fintan McCarthy, the women's coxless rowing team captured bronze and Aidan Walsh is guaranteed at least a bronze medal in welterweight boxing.

Time will tell how much of a success these Games will be for Irish sport, but you have to ask yourself if Ireland have punched below their weight since their participation began.

Since first entering a tournament in 1924, Ireland has captured a total of 33 medals and counting at the Games over the course of 24 events, including Tokyo.

Breaking it down, Ireland has won 10 golds, 10 silvers and 13 bronze medals, and three of those golds came from Michelle Smith's triple gold at the 1996 Games which have since been clouded in controversy over doping allegations.

On average, since 1924 Ireland has won only one gold medal at each Games. For a sports mad country like ourselves, we are falling well short.

This is in no way a knock on the athletes who have won the medals for Ireland, and who have made huge sacrifices to get to the peak of their chosen sport. I would make the argument they have thrived in spite of the challenges put in front of them.

Many of the sports that feature at the games see many of their brightest talents taken by Gaelic games, soccer and rugby. In addition, anyone who does continue to pursue with their chosen sport has the added issue of a lack of funding from government, appropriate facilities to train and national promotion. I don't care what your sport is or how talented you are; if no one knows about it, it will fall by the wayside.

A prime example of the many talented people across all sports codes is our Young Sports Stars Awards. A look at the many athletes across many sports in our county shows the talents. That multiplies as you can look further across the country.

Comparing us to other nations of our size does not look favourable either. Take Croatia, for example. A country of only just over four million, they have won 50 medals, 18 of which are gold. What's damning is they only first entered a team in 1992 as an independent nation, almost 70 years since Ireland's debut at the Games.

We have the talent and ambition in our country to do better. It's up to the powers that be to give them the best platform possible.

*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.