Mar 18, 2014
The Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014 were recently launched by Minister Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism at the Aviva Stadium. An initiative of the Federation of Irish Sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and The Community Foundation of Ireland, the Volunteers in Sport Awards are run to honour the work of volunteers in Irish sport.
The Minister was joined at the launch by John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council, Olympic Gold Medallist Ronnie Delany, Fiona Coghlan, Captain, Irish Women’s Rugby team, Stephanie Roche, Peamount Utd and Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team, Keith Fahey, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Republic of Ireland and Irish Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill.
The first awards were presented in 2007 and are designed to recognise the contribution, commitment and dedication of the 500,000 volunteers who give so generously of their time to sport every year. Sport remains the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in Ireland.
Ten winners will be selected to receive an award from the nominations received. An Overall or Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded. Full details of the scheme and how to enter can be found on line at www.volunteersinsport.com
The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards is 12noon, Friday 25th April 2014. The awards will be presented to the winners at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in early Autumn. Nominate here
Launch Video: Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014
Mar 14, 2014
Since joining ITU club, South Dublin Taekwondo, he has gone from strength to strength under Master Robert Taaffe. During the past 5 years not only has he won numerous national and international competitions., the highlight being representing Ireland at the World Youth Sports Festival in Vienna in 2013 bringing home Gold after a spectacular knock out in the final but he has also attended numerous seminars and personal coaching sessions with some of the world’s top coaches and fighters such as Ky Tu Dang, Henk Meyer, Stig Larson and Chloe Bruce. In 2012 Jack was invited to attend an Olympic Training camp in Athens with Master Kou Kouletsos where he honed his practical and mental skills to a high standard gaining the praise and friendship of this World and Olympic level coach. He has also qualified as a corner judge and regularly volunteers for the I.T.U and is a junior coach in SDTKD. He has also volunteered promoting the sport in local schools, youth groups and intergenerational projects. This 2nd Dan Black Belt National Team player has won numerous accolades including The Echo Sports Star award 2012, Pride of Jobstown Junior Sports Star award 2011, his clubs Outstanding Contribution 2010 and Fighter of the year 2013/14.
Jack Woolley travels to Taipei on Sunday 16th March to represent Ireland at the Junior World Taekwondo Championships and the qualifying tournament for the Youth Olympic Games.
The youth Olympic games will be held in Nanjing, China in 2014
Mar 10, 2014
On 24 January 2014, the European Commission adopted its Report on the implementation of the first EU Work Plan for Sport (2011-2014).
The Report 
draws a positive picture of achieved work outcomes, includes ideas for future priorities regarding EU cooperation on sport and makes proposals for adapted working methods. It will serve as a basis for the discussion in the Council on a Resolution on the second EU Work Plan for Sport, which is expected to be adopted by the Council in May.
The first EU Work Plan for Sport was adopted by the Council in form of a Resolution in May 2011 setting out priorities for the EU sport agenda. The implementation of the Work Plan involved the Member States, the Commission and sport stakeholders, and got support from six sport Expert Groups covering the areas of ‘anti-doping’, ‘good governance’, ‘education and training’, ‘sport, health and participation’, ‘sustainable financing’ and ‘statistics’.
In its assessment the Commission looked into the progress achieved in the defined priority areas and more particularly the results delivered by these Expert Groups. Commissioner Vassiliou said:
| “The 2011-2014 EU Work Plan for Sport has achieved positive results, thanks to a solid structure for cooperation, based on clear priorities and deliverables. It has helped us to advance EU policy in areas such as the fight against match-fixing and doping, as well as contributing to the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity among all ages.We hope to see more concrete results soon, including the implementation of EU guidelines on dual careers for athletes and a strengthening of the evidence-base for sport policy. Our focus is to provide unambiguous added value and to ensure that sport is mainstreamed in other EU policy areas. I am confident that the next EU Work Plan for Sport will be equally, if not more successful.
Our report proposes to build on what we have achieved so far and proposes future priorities such as work on gender equality, recognition of non-formal and informal learning in sport, the sustainability of major sport events and the protection of young athletes. We are also aiming to further simplify and strengthen working methods between Member States and with sport stakeholders.” |
The Commission’s Report will be the basis for the discussion on the second multi-annual EU Work Plan for Sport in the Council structures for sport, which just started. The Council is expected to adopt the Resolution on the new Work Plan in May so that implementation can start in the second half of 2014.
Commission Report 2014
Feb 28, 2014
The Irish Tenpin Bowling Association (ITBA) was founded in 1964 and is the governing body for the sport in Ireland. Affiliated to the Federation Internationale des Quillers (FIQ), it is the responsibility of the ITBA to provide and enforce the rules and regulations set out by the FIQ, as well as other international governing bodies such as the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA).
The ITBA works to ensure that the sport of bowling is developed in such a way that it can be enjoyed at a non-competitive level for those looking for a fun leisure activity and also, as well as allowing for those at a competitive level to progress and compete at as high a level as possible, both domestically and internationally.
Not only is tenpin bowling a fun activity for people of all ages, it is also a terrific way to exercise. As an anaerobic exercise, similar to walking with free weights, it depends more on muscular work than the ability of the person to put up with the exercise for long periods of time. This allows the participant to get the exercise your muscles need while still appeasing your mind’s need for fun. Just half an hour can burn up to 150 calories-the equivalent of going on a moderate bike ride or even spending the same amount of time rowing.
The ITBA is a full member of the Federation of Irish sport and receives excellent backing from the Irish Sports Council, in terms of finance as well as supporting development through various courses. The association works closely with all individual clubs and bowling centres in its attempt to develop the sport of tenpin bowling in Ireland.
Membership:
There are currently over 1,800 people competing in annual leagues on ITBA-sanctioned lanes throughout the country.
Fact File:
- Primitive bowling balls and pins have been discovered dating as far back as 3200 B.C., while there is also evidence of more modern versions of the game in Germany as far back as 300 A.D.
- A standard bowling pin weighs between 3 pounds 6 ounces and 3 pounds 10 ounces.
- The first perfect ‘300’ game on record was bowled by Earnest Fosberg in Illinois in 1902, although the first perfect game recognised by a governing body was sanctioned by the American Bowling Congress in 1908, bowled by A.C. Jellison.
- The youngest person to bowl a perfect game on record is Hannah Diem of Florida, who rolled the game at the age of 9 years, 6 months and 19 days.
2013 Highlights:
- 19 year-old Christopher Sloan bowled two perfect games on the way to an 11th place finish at the AMF Bowling World Cup in Russia.
- Christopher also finished 11th in the Vienna Open, a European Bowling Tour event which hosted some of the world’s best players.
- Barry Foley became the first male Irish winner of the Irish Open in its twenty-five year history.
- Alan Bride and Hannah Cullen became National Champions.
- Ireland’s Juniors excelled at the Junior Triple Crown in Dunfermline, with under-19 bowlers Kevin Wattimena and Rachel Mulligan winning their respective Masters finals.
- The ITBA and the bowling community celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of tenpin bowling in Ireland with a gala dinner and a new commemorative tournament.
Key Programmes
The ITBA has enlisted the help of United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Gold Level Coach Joe Slowinski to develop and implement a new coaching programme aimed at the development of junior bowling. The objective of the programme is to ensure the development of coaching with the aim of enhancing the level of our junior bowlers moving forward.
The programme design, which is based on biomechanics and scientific research and practice, is cutting edge, with a skill-level coaching curriculum fully supported by coaches’ manuals, interactive social media support, mentoring and monitoring by Slowinski throughout.
Joe Slowinski kicked of the 24-week development programme by spending four days in July 2013 with the coaches in classroom and practical sessions, followed by two tough days of group sessions with bantams, junior and under-24 bowlers.
Slowinski returned in October to oversee the progress of the programme implementation and to continue his work educating the participating coaches in another group of sessions which brought about very positive results. He is quoted on his Facebook page as saying: “Thank you for the weekend. We can collectively make history. Everyone has to be active, and I will be an active participant.”
The sessions and programme have been taken on enthusiastically by all involved, with five clubs participating. This totals 119 junior bowlers (67 boys and 52 girls) and 22 coaches, and all five clubs come together once a month to ensure ongoing parallel development.
Key Events in 2014
- National Championships
- World Cup Qualifiers
- Rocks Bowling Tour
- Senior Championships
Contact Info
All contact information can be found at the official ITBA website:
www.tenpinbowling.ie
Feb 27, 2014
DSI is hosting the EDSO European Deaf Futsal Mini-Tournament in the Arena, Tallaght on Friday 28th and Sat 1st March.
There will be live streaming starting on Friday 28th of February at 19:00 and on Saturday 1st of March 2014 at 11:00 and 18:00.
“This is DSI’s first time ever to broadcast these games and is a really exciting time for everyone from outside of Ireland to be able to join us to watch the matches!” said Lorelei Fox-Roberts, DSI.
The men’s futsal teams competing represent Ireland, Cyprus and Poland.
The match schedule is as follows:
Friday 28th February:
7pm: Ireland V Cyprus
Saturday 1st March:
11am: Cyprus V Poland;
6pm: Poland V Ireland
The Irish Men’s Futsal Team consists of 14 players, as can be seen below:
Daniel Landers;
Brian Daly;
John O’Sullivan;
Darren Dunne;
Patrick Maher;
Sean Young;
Kevin Dudley;
Christopher Corcoran;
Jason Maguire;
Keenan Byrne;
Mark Sinclair;
Michael Walsh;
Justin Smyth; and
Joey Watson.
From 1-4pm on Saturday, there will be a number of Women’s Futsal friendly matches, with 4 teams competing.
Entry to the tournament as a supporter is free and it is a great chance to get out and cheer on the Irish players.
For more information, email: admin@deafsportsireland.com
Please do check our website for the latest update on our live streaming – go to www.deafsportsireland.com for further information.
