Olympic medalist Sonia O’Sullivan will carry the Olympic torch down Dublin’s O’Connell Street when it visits the Republic for the first time this summer.

O’Sullivan, who won a silver medal for the 5,000 meter run in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, will be the first high profile Irish sporting figure to be handed the torch on June 6.

The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) confirmed on Thursday night that O’Sullivan would be the
Chef de Mission of the Irish Olympic squad in London. She will be handed the torch in the Garden of Remembrance as part of the two-a-half hour ceremony, before it is returned to Northern Ireland.

Up to 40 top sports stars will do a 12 km circuit of Dublin City as part of the June celebrations.