Tougher eligibility rules for Games

Switching off Commonwealth Games officials are getting tough with athletes who compete under flags of convenience and will make it harder for them to swap countries for the 2006 Games in Melbourne.

The new measures, mainly designed for athletes who represent Great Britain at the Olympics but regularly swap between England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, require an athlete to have lived in the country they wish to represent for two years.

Under the new rules, Brisbane-born and bred runner Adrienne McIvor would not be able to compete for Northern Ireland in the 800m as she is at this year's Games.

Although her mother was born in Northern Ireland, McIvor has never lived there.

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