Northern Ireland sailor Stephen Milne is set to compete in the Beijing Olympics after being nominated for the Games by the Irish Sailing Association.

The Olympic Council of Ireland will now be expected to rubberstamp the selection of Ballyhome club's Milne and his team-mate Peter O'Leary.

Twenty-two-year-old Milne and Royal Cork's O'Leary compete in the two-man Star Class.

The duo secured selection by performing well in the recent World Championships.

On Thursday, the Irish Sailing Association board accepted the recommendation of the Olympic Steering Group that Milne and O'Leary should be selected.

"While it is very disappointing for the two crews who miss out, the OSG unanimously selected O'Leary and Milne," said the Olympic Steering Group chairman Colm Barrington.

"They have demonstrated that they have the best chance of success in the Olympic regatta in 2008."

Ireland has secured places in four of the 11 Olympic sailing disciplines (Star, Finn, 470 and Laser Radial) matching the performance target set after the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The four crews nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland for the regatta in Qingdao this August are Ciara Peelo (Laser Radial), Tim Goodbody (Finn), Ger Owens and Phil Lawton (470) plus Peter O'Leary & Stephen Milne (Star).

The other crews in contention for the Star selection were Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks plus Maurice O'Connell and Ben Cooke.