Ward must be given first shot at Olympic dream

The possibility of Moate's European light-heavweight boxing champion Joe Ward being denied a shot at the World Championships and the Olympic Games has become very real. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) last week held controversial box-offs to help choose the Irish squad for the World Championships. Previously, it had been taken for granted, that the national champions would be selected for the World Championships, which also act as the main entry route for the Olympic Games. So when Ward dethroned Kenny Egan at the Irish championships in February last, it was understood that he was in line for a tilt at Olympic qualification. He must have felt sure that his phenomenal success in securing the European senior title at the age of 17 must surely have copper-fastened his place in the World Championships Now, however, Ward's berth is in doubt, after he and four more of Ireland's top boxers were ruled out of the hurriedly-organised box-offs on medical grounds. Even now, it is uncertain whether Ward, or the winner of the light heavyweight box-off, will be selected on the World Championship team. The IABA issued a statement on Friday, in a bid to put an end to the controversy, but it only served to add fuel to the flames. It left it unclear how it would chose the squad for the World Championships. "At a meeting on 5th August, the Officer Board of the Boxing Council of the IABA recommended that the Open Elite Competition be used to assist in the selection of the team for the World Championships. Formal team ratification will ultimately take place on 20th August, and the Boxing Council will select the team following the outcome of the Open Elite Competition, and assessing other relevant performances and factors," the statement said. If the IABA decides to choose the box-off winners, rather than European champions Ward or Ray Moylette, who also missed the box offs, it will represent a serious PR disaster for the sport, which has been the glowing star in Ireland's sporting firmament in recent times. There are only two routes to the Olympics - via the World Championships or a further internationally-recognised qualifying tournament. And with only one berth per country per weight division, if the box-off winner were to be selected ahead of Ward for the World games and secure the Olympic place through a good World Championship performance, that would spell the end for Ward's Olympic 2012 dream. After all he has achieved in his short sporting career to date, that would be deeply regrettable. Public views must be heard on Lough Ree designation Too often in Ireland, we tend to protest and voice our disapproval after a decision which has deep public impacts has already been made. Most local and national government decisions are made after a period of public consultation, designed to allow public disquiet or concern be voiced. However, there is usually a poor participation level in such public consultation exercises. We hope that a similar situation does not apply regarding new plans to designate the entire Lough Ree area as a special protection area for wild birds. The designation will have significant impacts on people living in a vast range of areas along the lake shore, including Hillquarter, Killinure, Ballykeeran and many other local townlands. The status will mean locals must seek permission in advance for activities including drainage works; any removal or disturbance of rock, minerals, mud, sand, gravel or sediment; the cutting or uprooting of plants; and planting trees or bioenergy crops. A landowner will need to get approval if he or she plans to develop or consent to the development of "commercial recreational/visitor facilities or activities." Permission will also be needed for the introduction or reintroduction of any plants or animals not currently found in the area. In all cases, permission will have to be sought from the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, unless another public body or local authority had previously granted permission for the activity in question. Leaving the rights or wrongs of the proposal to one side, it is clear that this is a case where people's views should be heard now, not after the fact.