DCU Olympic hopefuls receive 'send-off' from DCU

DCU Olympic hopefuls Darren Sutherland and Fionnuala Britton

Fionnuala Britton and Darren Sutherland, two DCU Olympic hopefuls, today received a 'send-off' from the DCU President, staff and students. A group of DCU's Chinese students joined in the celebrations by performing the lion dance which symbolises good luck.

Professor Niall Moyna, Head of Health and Human Performance at DCU said, "DCU has shown that with the proper support structure provided by the university and the Irish Sports Council, there is clear evidence that athletes who remain in Ireland are able to achieve the highest level in sport, such as competing at the Olympics".

Fionnuala Britton qualified to compete in the women's 3,000 steeplechase at this year's Olympics qualifiers. She is a graduate of DCU's BSc in Sport Science and Health and is currently involved in postgraduate research. She is from Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.

Darren Sutherland is currently in his second year of the BSc Sport Science and Health programme, and won the Irish national boxing title in 2006 and 2007.

Ciara Peelo, a graduate of the Business Degree programme is also representing Ireland in the sailing team but was unable to attend today's event. She is currently at the European Championships as part of a build-up to the Beijing Olympics.

Fionnuala, Darren and Ciara are part of a 51-strong Irish team bound for the Beijing over the next two months. Darren will leave Dublin along with his boxing teammates on 22 July. Fionnuala will leave for Beijing with her track teammates on 1 August.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, DCU President, expressed his congratulations to the Irish athletes who will represent Ireland in Beijing. "The university is extremely proud of all three athletes who have already achieved so much in both their academic and sporting lives. At DCU we take the holistic approach to education and encourage all our students to involve themselves in sporting and social activities during their student years. We feel particularly pleased to see solidarity from our Chinese community here at DCU. The university has developed strong links with business, industries and universities in China, and their support today is especially welcome. Fionnuala, Darren and Ciara have the support of all the DCU community and they take our best wishes with them to China", he said.

Click here to view photo slideshow of the event.