Those who wish to watch the Olympic Games live from Australia next September may have to ply themselves with plenty of coffee. According to the timetable many events will start around midnight Irish time and run right through the small hours. Early breakfasts may be an alternative.

Sydney will be 10 hours ahead of Ireland when the games begin on September 15th. Generally the competitions will begin at 11 p.m. and continue through the night, finishing at lunchtime the following day.

Athletics, which is the focal point of the second week, will have an Australian morning session beginning at midnight Irish time and an afternoon session beginning at 6.30 a.m. Irish time. Track and Field finals, however, are more accommodating for Irish viewers, beginning a little later in the morning. The men's and women's 1500m finals, for example, will be run between 9.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. Irish time on September 30th.

The women's marathon, for which there will hopefully be a serious Irish interest in Catherina McKiernan, will begin at 11 p.m. on Sunday September 24th. Not bad. But for those interested in following McKiernan's progress, a 1.30 a.m. finish can be expected.