Sir, - The recent World Cross Country Championships held in Belfast received live coverage in approximately 150 countries around the world - but not from RTE. This was a disgraceful decision. It was without doubt the biggest sporting occasion held in Northern Ireland for decades and probably the most important ever held there.
Belfast is 110 miles from Dublin. Surely it's not asking too much to show the event live when countries as far removed as Japan provided coverage. In the present political climate it might have been beneficial to show how well organised the Northern Ireland Athletics Association can be in its hosting of this important event. The IAAF deliberately selected Belfast for the occasion in 1999 to show solidarity towards the peace process.
Thankfully BBC and Eurosport in particular continue to show all major sporting events. Unfortunately, viewers who do not have access to foreign stations must rely on RTE for sporting coverage and on this occasion at least they have been badly let down. - Yours, etc., Eamonn Tierney,
Beverly Avenue, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.