Olympic Wishes From Taoiseach To Irish Team

On the eve of the Olympics in London, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has wished the Irish Olympic team proud.

He said he knew the team would "do us proud".

Speaking to athletes on a visit to London ahead of tonight's Olympic opening ceremony, he said: "In many ways this is not unlike politics. You have to believe in yourself and you have to have a sense of conviction and courage.

"For these athletes to pull on a singlet must be for them a pinnacle of their sporting careers and to compete to win is the possibility of making a dream come true."

Mr Kenny and his wife Fionnuala visited athletes at their training base in St Mary's University College, Twickenham.

He spent more than an hour there, accompanied by Sonia O'Sullivan, the Chef de Mission of Team Ireland.

Mr and Mrs Kenny will attend the Queen's reception at Buckingham Palace before going to the Olympics opening ceremony.

He will also meet US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney just a day after the latter’s Olympic gaffe about London not being ready for the Games.

Unlike Romney, Mr Kenny praised the London 2012 effort.

He said: "My general sense is that the planning that has gone into this is extraordinary and I expect this will be an outstanding Olympics."

He continued: "I think it's important that meetings like this can take place between representatives of countries with similar approaches to dealing with our culture, our tradition and our people."

(NE/GK)