The 17 team leaders are the people with the overall responsibility for their dedicated sport at Rio 2016.

Each has previous leadership and management experience at an Olympic Games, World and European Championship, an excellent working relationship with the chief coach and other coaches in their sport and knowledge of the world's best practice in performance and management of their sport, it is claimed. 

Among those named is European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, team leader for golf, a sport which makes its return to the Olympic programme for the first time in 112 years.

McGinley led Team Europe to its third successive Ryder Cup success in September as the team recorded 16 ½ points to America's 11 ½ at Gleneagles, Scotland.

"It was a great honour for me over the last two years to represent Europe as captain and I am now delighted to have the opportunity to assist my country as team leader of the men's and ladies Irish Golf Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," said McGinley.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the Olympic Council of Ireland in the build up to Rio over the next 18 months and representing our country at this phenomenal event."

Paul McGinley masterminded Europe's success at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles ©Getty Images



Joining McGinley is Joseph Hennigan, President of the Mayo Boxing Club, who will be the man at the helm of Ireland's most successful Olympic sport, boxing.

Ireland has won 19 Olympic medals in boxing, including two gold, with four of their five London 2012 medals coming in the sport.

Expectations will be high for Ireland's boxers in Rio as they look to reproduce the form that saw them so successful in London two years ago.

Other team leaders for Ireland include Kevin Ankrom (athletics), Brian Nugent (cycling), Sally Filmer (gymnastics), Mike Heskin (hockey), Peter Banks (swimming), Tom Reidy (badminton), Ike Jacob (canoeing), Jeffrey C McCready (clay pigeon shooting), Triona Connors (horse sport), Ciaran Ward (judo), Lindsey Weedon (modern pentathlon), Morten Espersen (rowing), Gillian McDarby (rugby), James O'Callaghan (sailing) and Chris Kitchen (triathlon).

The 17 team leaders are expected to attend all the required workshops, training, policy development and team days, set up by the Olympic Council of Ireland in its team management programme.

"We have achieved much in the last two Olympic cycles, with unprecedented levels of cooperation and understanding between the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland," said OCI President Patrick Hickey.

"Never before has Team Ireland been so well supported and we have to thank our Minister for Sport, Michael Ring, for this.

"Today we announce the most competent and successful group of team leaders that Team Ireland has ever fielded at an Olympic Games and I know our athletes and coaches will be given the greatest assistance possible in achieving their best performances."

Katie Taylor won gold for Ireland at London 2012 in the nation's most successful sport - boxing ©Getty Images



Alongside the team leaders, Ring announced the €1 million (£800,000/$1.25 million) of funds to help Team Ireland in preparations for the Rio Games.

The investment will provide additional support to 18 sporting bodies in the areas of acclimatisation camps, familiarisation and preparation tours, training camps and competition costs.

"Today's announcement is a significant development in Team Ireland's Rio preparation," he said.

"I would like to commend the Olympic Council on today's appointments of team leaders and their commitment to the planning process in advance of the Games.

"Twenty fifteen will be a critical year in terms of qualifying for Rio and, as such, requires a higher level of investment than other years in the cycle.

"I am delighted that today's special allocation of investment to support qualification, preparation and participation will go some way to alleviate the stress on the various budgets as well as provide a major boost to the system in aggregate."

Team Ireland will conduct their pre-Olympic training in Uberlandia after the OCI found it to be the most suitable area for its athletes.

Uberlandia is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

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