After the preliminary series, the Irish team of Laois's Aoife Hoey and her Dublin teammate Claire Bergin made history by taking the 20th and last qualifying spot, but their involvement is under threat after a bizarre late objection from Australia.

Last week, when one of the Austrian teams withdrew, Ireland were moved into 19th place and Japan were given the spare competition spot.

Australia are arguing that because Japan were given a place as the leading team in Asia, then their team should also get a place as the leading team in their qualifying region - Oceania.

They have submitted a detailed case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and, if they are successful, could replace Ireland; although if the CAS finds in their favour, they could also recommend the Australian pair of Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh could be included as a 21st team and Ireland would not lose out.

In today’s hearing here the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) claimed an extra sled should be added to the field of 20 so that Oceania is represented.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) encourages “"universality" and all continents in the five Olympic rings should be included in events, they claimed.

"Our preferred option is to have the Australian girls added to the competition" said AOC Director of Sport, Fiona de Jong.

Ireland was represented by Patrick Hickey, a member of the IOC and President of the Olympic Council of Ireland.

Hickey told reporters a loss at the CAS "would be worse than the handball that knocked Ireland out of the World Cup."

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