Far from holding out an olive branch to the Olympic Council of Ireland, Irish athletics body BLE appear to be giving the Olympic organisation a lash in this year's congress report.

BLE secretary Christy Wall writes: "The bord continues to be a constituent member of Olympic Council of Ireland and whilst members could be justified in thinking otherwise, wishes to play a positive role . . . Opportunities for such a role are of course limited as the council in general session meets only once a year and this gathering tends to be organised more for the corporate benefit of the limited entity rather than a forum for the benefit of the constituent bodies.

"The council's much-publicised dispute with the Minister and his officials was of no benefit to our athletes as they prepare for Sydney 2000, in fact it appears as though the energies expended in maintaining a media image throughout the dispute probably allowed the elected members to forget the proximity of Sydney 2000.

In a final sting, Wall adds: "It is hoped that sometime in the future the Olympic Council of Ireland will be representative of all its constituent bodies and that it can be in unison with those bodies, as against what appears to be the present supremacist position adopted by the council."

Ouch!