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Athletes gearing up for Ireland's 'biggest ever' Olympic Games

World Hockey League Fifth Place Playoff, Antwerp, Belgium 5/7/2015 Ireland vs Malaysia The Ireland team celebrate at the final whistle Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Grant Treeby

IRISH athletes are gearing up for what is expected to be the country’s biggest ever turnout at an Olympic Games.

Over 80 men and women from across 14-16 different sports are predicted to represent Team Ireland at the summer tournament in Rio.

Four years ago in London, 66 Irish athletes competed for medals, but this year’s record-breaking figure is largely due to Ireland’s men’s hockey team’s qualification, with 16 places in the squad on offer.

Speaking to The Irish Post, Chief Executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland Dr Stephen Martin MBE, said that this will be Ireland’s biggest tournament yet.

“We’re expecting at least 80 athletes to be travelling to Rio, and if the rugby teams qualify there’ll be another 12 from each team to add to the total.

"With the athletes, qualification events run right up until the tournament, which isn’t ideal.”

Today, the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, confirmed that Team Ireland has qualified two road-racing places at the Olympics.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Katie Taylor of the Ireland Olympic boxing team carries her country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Katie Taylor carries Ireland's flag at the London 2012 Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)

The spots are in the Men’s Elite Road Race, and the individual athletes nominated for the places will be announced in the coming months.

To date, Team Ireland has secured 53 Olympic spots across athletics, boxing, cycling, equestrian, hockey, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing and swimming, with the qualification process for other sports still on-going.

But whilst the likes of boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon are confirmed to travel to Brazil, in events including hockey and the marathon, internal selection is yet to place.

Team Ireland’s biggest training base will be in Uberlandia, in south-eastern Brazil, and the venue’s key residents will be the Irish athletics, swimming and cycling teams.

The boxing team will be located in Rio de Janeiro and hockey team will be across the border in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A few key dates of the upcoming qualification events:

(Track cycling) The UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London [March 2-6]
(Canoeing) European Canoe Sprint Olympic Qualifier in Germany [May 18-19]
(Rugby 7s men and women) – Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monaco [June]

See More: Featured, Olympic Games, Qualifying, Rio 2016, Team Ireland