O'Rourke, who sensationally won silver in the 100 metres hurdles outdoor European championships in Sweden last weekend, was speaking as the national finals of the games kicked off in Mosney. The 24-year-old from Cork showed some of her training techniques to Niamh Fallon and Stewart Roche, both from Dublin, who are competing in the Under 14 hurdles events.

"Dedicated training is the key to success. Athletic events are a great outlet for young sports enthusiasts", she said. "The games give an opportunity to have a sense of pride in representing your area. Determination, fitness and a good training regime will help competitors to win out in the end. One day some of these young competitors may be representing Ireland if they work hard at their chosen sport."

She praised all the voluntary workers involved, saying: "The HSE Community Games has done great work in bringing hundreds of thousands of young people into the healthy competitive life of sports and entertainment where drugs have no place."

O'Rourke trains at Dublin City University and is a gold medal holder from the indoor world championships in Moscow in March. She began the 2006 season as the Irish indoor record holder and broke her own record three times already this year.