Rugby's "use it or lose it" rule will come into effect in a swimming context when major events involving Irish Olympic aspirants are staged in Belfast and Athens next month.

Funding from the Ulster Sports Council for northern swimmers could be a major factor in deciding on the composition of the team for the world short course championships in Athens from March 16th-19th.

The Ulster Open Championships are fixed for the same four days despite clashing with Athens. Now, the Ulster Branch (Swim Ireland) must use the Sports Council money provided for Athens, or lose it.

However, an additional problem is that the world championships are for national teams and Swim Ireland were still undecided last night on whether to send a team to Athens.

The top Ulster swimmers are anxious to travel even though it will mean missing their own championships in the Grove Baths. Should Swim Ireland stick by its original decision not to select a team for Athens, there is the possibility a group of Ulster swimmers will be allowed to compete under the guise of an Ireland squad at the Games.

Top swimmers from the Republic are not planning to be involved in Athens and instead will travel north for the Ulster championships. Swimmers of the calibre of Nick O'Hare, Colin Lowth and Hugh O'Connor will not be in Athens, but there is the off chance of Chantal Gibney competing in the Greek capital. She is currently in long course training with Peter Banks in Florida. Should Banks be appointed by the US Federation to travel with the US team to Athens, Gibney could be included in the US party, although she could compete only as an Ireland swimmer.

National coach Ger Doyle has strong views on the whole confusing scenario and said: "It's Olympic year and the focus should be on long course preparation. Sending a full Irish team funded from Swim Ireland resources would be a waste of money.

"In terms of short course competition our swimmers would get more competition in the Ulster championships over the four days as against probable one-off morning time heat swims at the world championships."

Hugh O'Connor, voted the swimmer of the meet at Leisureland, Salthill, will open his long course preparation in Edinburgh prior to the international meet on April 15-16.