Winter Olympics:The Irish women's bobsleigh team consisting of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin is "highly unlikely" to lose its place at the Winter Olympics despite Brazil becoming the second country to bring a case against them.
Brazil will have their case heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Vancouver tomorrow with the outcome likely to be known around 10pm Irish time.
Their complaint is based on Ireland’s late entry into the qualifying campaign with Brazil now looking for yet another place in the women’s two-person bobsleigh event.
This second case came within hours of the decision in favour of Ireland’s inclusion after Australia challenged their participation.
Australia, who failed to qualify automatically, argued that they were entitled to a place on the grounds that Oceania should have a mandatory representative under the rules of its qualification system.
Instead of removing the Irish team, which was one avenue open to the CAS panel, they called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to expand the event from 20 to 21 sleds.
The increase was agreed and a compromise was reached. In doing so it also preserved Ireland’s Olympic status.
However, Brazil now want the event increased to 22 sleds and the decision to be made by CAS in Vancouver tomorrow will be final.
Brazil had previously been unsuccessful in making the same case to the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT).
It is understood Ireland are not in danger of losing their place to Brazil with a spokesperson for the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) saying it would be “virtually impossible for the Court of Arbitration to overturn a decision they made less than 24 hours previous”.
There is little doubt the cases have been a distraction for the Irish pair and their coaching team, though Hoey, who pilots the Irish sled, will be able to take her mind off matters as she was nominated to carry the Irish flag at tomorrow's opening ceremony.
The Winter Olympics gets under way from this Friday (12th) and runs until Sunday, February 28th.