Aug 7, 2015
11-12 September 2015, AVIVA Stadium
The Connectivity Forum is an industry-focused event to introduce delegates from all areas of sport and leisure in Ireland to the interface between sport and digital technology. Learn how to engage your fans and sponsors, increase your reach with effective online marketing, create a community of fans and supporters on social media, manage your
organisation, business or athletes more efficiently with online apps.
2 x 1 Day Workshops
11 Sept: Technology and Analytics in Sport
12 Sept: Social/Digital Media and Apps in Sport
Cost: €195 per day or €325 for two days. (Federation members discount code: FISDISC- €150/€295)
Includes: Keynote addresses and Forum programme, networking evening (Fri night), refreshments (Morning/afternoon tea, lunch)
For full programme and registration please visit
https://events.conferencepartners.ie/ei/getdemo.ei?id=265&s=_49G0YDHOG
(Federation members discount code: FISDISC)
SPORTS CONNECTIVITY FORUM
Featured Speakers:
Professor Bill Gerrard
(University of Leeds)
“From Measurement to Management:
Using Data Analytics to Improve Performance”
Mr Tony Schiller
(Paragon Marketing, USA)
“Leveraging Sponsors in a Digital World”
Dr Ann Pegoraro
(Director, Institute for Sport Marketing, Canada)
“Connecting with today’s Digital Sport Fan”
Ms Ann Bruen
(Metrifit, Ireland)
“Mobile Phone Applications and Player
Assessment and Development”
Ms Susan Giblin
(Kitman Labs, Ireland)
“Monitoring Athlete Injury via Mobile Apps”
For more information, please contact
Ms Fiona McVeigh, UCD Centre for Sports Studies
fiona.mcveigh@ucd.ie

Aug 7, 2015
The Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 provides a new partial exemption from commercial rates for Community Sports Clubs that are registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904. Buildings or part of buildings used for or in conjunction with the sale or consumption of alcohol or food, retail use or hire to non-community organisations continue to be liable for rates.
In order to avail of this partial exemption, Community Sports Clubs registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904 are required to complete and submit an application, with supporting documentation, to the Valuation Office on or before Tuesday September 15th 2015.
Application forms and full details are available online from the Valuation Office website at www.valoff.ie , by emailing valuationservices@valoff.ie, or by telephoning the Valuation Office on 01 8171033.
Community Sports Clubs – Partial Exemption
The Valuation Office is implementing the provisions of the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, which came into effect on 8th June 2015, in connection with Community Sports Clubs. The Act amends Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 and provides a new partial exemption from commercial rates for Community Sports Clubs that are registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act, 1904.
Community Sports Clubs not registered under the 1904 Act, and which operate on a not for profit basis, will continue to be exempt from rates and do not need to make an application.
Under the new partial exemption, Community Sports Clubs registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904 will not be liable for commercial rates on buildings, or parts of buildings, that generate income from participants in community sport or from community organisations that use the building or part of the building for community purposes.
Buildings or parts of buildings, used for or in conjunction with the sale or consumption of alcohol or food, retail use or hire for profit (other than outlined in the previous paragraph) are liable for rates.
Over the coming months, the Valuation Office will revise the valuations of Community Sports Clubs benefiting from the amendment to Schedule 4. This process requires Community Sports Clubs to complete and submit an application (Form R2) and the accompanying documents listed below no later than September 15th 2015.
The completed application (Form R2) and accompanying documents should be posted or delivered to Sports Club Applications, Valuation Office, Block 2, Irish Life Centre, Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1, D01 E9X0, to arrive no later than Tuesday September 15th 2015.
There is no fee for the application.
Form R2 – is available for download from the Revision Forms page by clicking here
Further information is available in the Community Sports Clubs – Partial Exemption – FAQ
Jul 22, 2015
How to develop meaningful Key Performance Indicators for Sports Governing Bodies
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) measure aspects of your organisations performance that are most critical for your sport’s success.
To develop meaningful KPIs you must develop clear objectives and KPIs that support your sport’s strategy.
Once KPIs have been defined, they need to be presented in a way that will allow quick and easy interpretation.
KPIs should have targets and provide evidence that objectives are being met.
The KPI information needs to be acted upon in such a way that it will move your organisation closer to achieving its objectives and ultimately your strategy.
How to develop meaningful KPIs:
- Create objectives for each area of the business e.g. increased participation.
- Describe results – e.g. Increase in numbers playing the sport.
- Identify measures e.g. Coaches – more qualified coaches / develop mini or modified versions of games to encourage all abilities and age groups / improve awareness of the sport through publicity, advertising and role models
- Define thresholds – a performance measure is meaningless unless it can be compared to something. This could be a target based on participation levels in other similar sports or participation levels in similar size countries. Participation levels by ability, age or gender.
- Upload structure/ data – build a score card structure entering objectives and related performance measures. Actual data will then be added on a regular basis.
- Interpret results – this incorporates creating meaningful dashboards and reports and secondly interpreting the results which could include developing charts.
- Take action – any performance measure that shows that an objective is moving in the wrong direction may need to have an action associated with it to remedy the situation e.g. a task, a project, budget change or simply to remove the objective. It’s important at this stage to consider if strategic initiatives should be created.
Contact Deirdre McDermott mcdermottd@osk.ie Audit Director OSK or visit www.osk.ie for further information on KPIs for your Sport’s Governing Body and for information on our audit, tax and accounting services.
Jul 20, 2015
Attracting more big ticket sporting events to Dublin would provide a multi-million euro boost to the Irish economy, according to Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
On July 2nd the Dublin Chamber published the results of an independent survey which found that travelling fans spent an estimated €11.5m here during the Six Nations Ireland versus England rugby game in March this year.
The study, carried out on Dublin Chamber’s behalf by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, estimates that the match added €21.3m in all to the economy.
According to Dublin Chamber CEO Gina Quin: “The findings of our study show the value of hosting large sporting events to the economy. If one match between Ireland and England is worth €21.3m, this offers an indications of how much the country could benefit from staging future events such as the 2023 Rugby World Cup and European Soccer Championship matches in 2020. Similar to exports, large sporting events, and also concert tourism, have the capacity to generate growth in Ireland’s economy. Big sporting events do wonders for the Irish brand and help to put Dublin and Ireland in the shop window for tourists around the world. The country’s hospitality sector relies on major events and a strong events programme is key to growing tourism numbers.”
Dublin Chamber said that the aim for Ireland should be to have a year-round schedule of events which will provide a regular flow of visitors from overseas.
Ms Quin added: “A 12 month diary of events would include big sporting events, arts festivals, concerts and exhibitions. Lots of great events take place already, but the challenge is to ensure that events are spread throughout the year. A year-round schedule will help to maintain and increase job numbers in the services sector. A lot of events take place in Dublin each year, but there remain large gaps in the calendar when nothing big happens. The lack of a major festival in Dublin during the summer months, when attention is focused on other places such as Galway, Tralee and Kilkenny, is a missed opportunity for the city.”
Main findings of the survey:
• An estimated 15,000 out-of-state visitors attended the Ireland versus England rugby game in the Aviva Stadium on 1st March 2015
• On average, game attendees spent €764 per person during their trip to Dublin
• The average stay of attendees in Dublin was 2.6 nights
• The estimated total direct spend of out-of-state visitors was €11.5m
• The estimated total direct spend of €11.5m added €21.3m to Irish GDP after accounting for multiplier effects including in-direct, induced and Government recycling
• Visitor spend contributed the equivalent of nearly 200 jobs over the course of a year
• Just over half of the total spend (€6.3m) was on pre-paid items, including hotels and restaurants (€2.9m), transport to Ireland (€1.9m), and the cost of a game ticket (€1.7m)
• Of the remaining spend, just under half €5.2m went on out-of-pocket spending (shopping, food, alcohol, domestic travel etc) while in Dublin for the game
• Alcohol represented the highest out-of-pocket spend item at €2.2m, followed by €1.3m on food
Background to the survey:
Dublin Chamber is regularly asked to provide an estimate of the economic worth of large events to Dublin and the country. The Chamber is able to accurately forecast the economic impact of events as a result of research we have done into how much visitors to Dublin typically spend when they attend events in the city. In order to refresh and update our base data, Dublin Chamber has commissioned a series of surveys to be carried out at major sporting events and concerts over the course of 2015. The first of these studies was carried out during the weekend of the Ireland/England Six Nations match in Aviva Stadium in March this year. The study was carried out on the Chamber’s behalf by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. The report on the findings was compiled by Dr. Paul Hanly, School of Business, National College of Ireland. The findings are based on 304 responses.
Jul 7, 2015
Date: 08/02/2015
Start Time: 11:45 AM*
* Times subject to change
Start Line: Chesterfield Avenue, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
Finish Line: Chesterfield Avenue, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
Participant Perks
- Official Race Number
- Finisher’s Medal
- Admission to Finish Festival and Concert
Shorter Distance, Same Amount of Fun!
Get your friends and family involved in a rockin’ 1.5 mile / 3k Fun Run after the 1/2 marathon.
Finisher medals are awarded to all fun run finishers!
Half Marathoners- Earn double the bling and participate in the Fun Run as a perfect cool down.
Fun Run Race Numbers can be picked up at the expo or on race day!
Click here to view the event flyer!