Grants totalling just over €2 million were announced yesterday by the Irish Sports Council, with athletics by far the main beneficiary. Another 22 sports were part of the €2,075,621 total allocation that came under the 2003 International Carding Scheme.

For athletics, there were 48 applications deemed eligible for the awards, ranging from world class to junior, and which represented a combined sum of €426,025. Sonia O'Sullivan was sole athlete in the World Class 1 category, normally awarded €30,500, but because of her additional income through endorsements and prize money that was halved to €15,250.

The sole athlete in World Class 2 category was Paul McKee, who was awarded €22,900. As bronze medallist over 400 metres from the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham earlier this month, McKee was unfortunate not to gain Class 1 status - but under the scheme guidelines indoor running doesn't carry the same weight as outdoors.

Still, McKee's recent success was taken into account for the 2003 awards, even though it came after the original application was submitted. "There has always been a certain amount of flexibility in the grants," said John Treacy, chief executive of the Sports Council. "And there was no point awarding the money for next year when Paul is clearly in a world class category at the moment." Sailing was the next best beneficiary, with a total of €371,600. Three individuals received the maximum €30,500 - Mark Mansfield, Maria Coleman and Killian Collins. Several other award winners, including David Burrows (€19,100) are also building towards next year's Athens Olympics.

Boxing provided the only other World Class 1 recipient in James Moore, who is a genuine hope for Athens. Andy Lee, who won silver at the World Junior Championships in Cuba, now qualifies as a senior and was awarded €11,500.

There were several sports which only received one award, including the promising young rifle and pistol shooter Nicholas Flood - who received €22,900. In Judo Sharon Harte was also the sole recipient with a grant of €19,100.

Since its inception in 1998, some €9 million in grant money has been awarded under the Carding Scheme. For 2003 the development category was increased to 45 athletes, and another €78,400 was allocated to nine sports for their junior athletes.

MAIN BENEFICIARIES

ATHLETICS: (AAI - total: a426,025): Sonia O'Sullivan (WC1) a15,250; Paul McKee (WC2) €22,900; Gillian O'Sullivan (WC3) €19,100 Anne Keenan Buckley (WC3) €19,100; Robert Heffernan (WC3) €19,100; Karen Shinkins (WC3) €19,100; Mark Carroll WC3 €19,100 David McCarthy (WC3) €19,100; Sarah Reilly (Int) €8,625.

BADMINTON (BUI - total: a45,500): Huang Bing (Int) €11,500; Ciaran d'Arcy (Dev) €4,600; Keelin Fox (Dev) €4,600.

CEREBRAL PALSY SPORTS (CPSI - total: a73,525): Derek Malone (WC1) €13,000; Joanne Dowling (WC1) €9,500; Tom Leahy (WC1) €13,000; Gabriel Shelly (WC1) €8,650; John Cronin (WC1) €13,000.

HANDBALL (Irish Handball- total: a12,880)

BOXING (IABA - total: a189,450): James Moore (WC1) €30,500; Kenneth Egan (WC2) €22,900; Alan Reynolds (WC2) €22,900; John Paul Kinsella (WC2) €22,900; Damien McKenna (WC2) €22,900.

FENCING (IAFF - total: a11,500):

ROWING (IARU - total: a178,075): Gearoid Towey (WC2) €22,900; Sinead Jennings (WC2) €22,900; Sam Lynch (WC2) €22,900.

WRESTLING (IAWLA - total: a9,900)

BLINDSPORTS (Total: a54,015): Catherine Walsh (WC3) €19,100; Michael Doyle (WC3) €17,400.

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING (ICPSA - total: a73,525):

CANOEING (ICU - total: a195,500): Gary Mawer (WC2) €19,100; Brendan Maloney (WC3) €19,100; Conor Maloney (WC3) €19,100.

CYCLING (CI - total: a91,950)

JUDO (IJA - total: a19,100)

SAILING (ISA - total: a371,600): Mark Mansfield (WC1) €30,500; Maria Coleman (WC1) €30,500; Killian Collins (WC1) €30,500.

SQUASH (IS - total: a57,500)

TABLE TENNIS (ITTA - total: a9,600)

TRIATHLON (ITA - total: a4,600)

WHEELCHAIR SPORTS (IWA - total: a93,850)

RIFLE AND PISTOL SHOOTING (NRAPA - total: a22,900): Nicholas Flood (WC2) €22,900

SNOOKER AND BILLIARDS (RIBSA - total: a6,500)

SWIMMING (SI - total: a66,606)

TENNIS (TTI - total: a39,100)

Total Carding 2003 - €2,075,621.