Jul 4, 2014
Featured Event: Special Olympics Ireland Games 2014
“LET ME WIN BUT IF I CANNOT WIN LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT”
-Athlete Oath
Location: Limerick, Clare & Tipperary.
DATE: Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th June 2014
PARTICIPATING TEAMS/ATHLETES/SPORTS: 1,500 athletes took part in 14 olympic type sports over the entire weekend. There was a wide variety of sports across the three counties, with the majority taking place in University of Limerick. UL facilities are amongst the best in the country acted as a great centre for the occasion.
The sports included were:
- Athletics
- Aquatics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Bocce
- Bowling
- Equestrian
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Kayaking
- Motor Activities Training Programme
- Pitch and Putt
- Table Tennis
About Special Olympics Ireland:
Special Olympics Ireland is a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability, but it provides athletes with far more than the physical benefits of sport. Special Olympics changes lives. Through sport, athletes develop both physically and emotionally, they make new friends and realise their dreams. Special Olympics Ireland enables our athletes to achieve and win not only in sport but in life too.
Special Olympics Ireland currently has almost 10,000 registered athletes participating in 15 sports in 385 Clubs throughout the island of Ireland. These athletes are supported by their families and a team of 25,000 volunteers who give of their time to help out at sporting and fundraising events.
MISSION
The mission of Special Olympics Ireland is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
VISION
The vision is to build the programme offered by Special Olympics Ireland so that every person with a learning disability has the opportunity, in their local community, to participate in high quality sport and development activities that bring life-changing experiences of increased skills, self-confidence and joy.
THE EVENT:
Venue – With Limerick as the centre, the Games took place within a big geographical area, encompassing three counties. The centre of the Special Olympics was in University of Limerick (UL) in Castletroy. UL was the venue for Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Football, Gymnastics, Kayaking and Motor Activities Training Programme. Those taking part in Golf did so at the Ballykisteen Golf Club in County Tipperary, while Equestrian took place in the Clonshire Equestrian Centre in Adare County Limerick. Mary Immaculate College hosted the Table Tennis as well as the Badminton while Bocce was took place in the Delta Sports Dome, again in Limerick. Pitch n’ Putt took place at Murroe Pitch and Putt. Finally the third County – Clare – hosted Bowling at the Ennis Leisure World.
Event in Numbers – The Special Olympics Games in Limerick saw a magnificent level of participation. Five Delegations from Eastern, Connaught, Leinster, Munster and Ulster regions participated comprising 1,500 athletes, xxx coaches with 3,000 volunteers giving of their time to host the Games. Over 7,000 people attended the Opening Ceremony, which began with a parade of the Delegations through Limerick City culminating in the People’s Park with a host of entertainers, including signer Paddy Casey. There was a real carnival atmosphere in Limerick with the people of Limerick coming out in huge numbers to cheer on the teams
What next for Special Olympics in 2014?
As a result of these games, 100 Athletes will be chosen to represent Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer games in Los Angeles next year.
On a continual basis Special Olympics offers weekly training across multiple sports as well as regular competitions for those who want to compete. Competition is not for everyone, so our focus is on participation and helping every athlete achieve their personal best.
How the event went:
The Special Olympics in Limerick was a major success. With 1,500 athletes taking part in 14 sports the variety of sport was one of the major highlights.
Special Olympics Ireland CEO Matt English said: “We need to make sure that every new athlete that joins the programme their lives will be changed and they will get to experience hopefully a life-long involvement, because Special Olympics have athletes here today the youngest was 8 and the oldest was 77. It is life-long.”
English continued: “We want to make sure that after this we keep Special Olympics strong because there are 1,500 athletes participated in the games here but there are 10,000 athletes that are training week in week out and I think it’s important that people realise that we need never to get complacent about Special Olympics.”
The games smooth running was hugely attributed to the 3,000 plus strong volunteer force and whose help was invaluable.
English also praised the 120 health professionals, including opticians, dentist, podiatrists and dieticians, who were on hand to give out expert free advice to athletes, who availed of full eye tests and were given prescriptions for new glasses and goggles free of charge.
Jul 4, 2014
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership
Background:
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership, an Irish Sports Council initiative, was set up in 2008 and works closely with its local partners to promote participation, inclusion and coordination in sport at a County level.
Based within the County Council offices in Dún Laoghaire our three key functions are; (1) Information Collection, (2) Education & Training, and (3) Strategy Implementation.
The Board of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership is made up of representatives of those agencies regarded as key influencers in local sports development. This interagency and collaborative work of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership adds value and complements the work of other state, sporting and local bodies. This is achieved through the delivery of national programmes, supporting all to participate, attracting funding, developing new initiatives and sharing information on sport in the County.
The new 5-year County Sports Participation Strategy 2013-2017 builds on the achievements of our initial 3-year plan. It has adopted a long-term approach to increasing participation and the benefits of active living in particular among its key target groups of: girls and women, disadvantaged young people, older adults, people with a disability, Travellers and ethnic minorities.
Some Actions and Impacts:
In 2013 we organised and delivered a wide range of training courses, workshops and physical activity programmes across the County for all ages and abilities.
Training & Development Included:
- Sports Volunteer Recognition Awards – celebration of volunteering
- Workshops in Child Protection, Sports First Aid, Disability Inclusion and
- Sports Volunteer Development Programme – workshops across 10 administrative areas for club leaders
- Club Seminar on upcoming Garda Vetting Legislation
- Y-Path – pilot intervention programme targeted at 1st years focusing on fundamental motor skills.
Participation Programmes & Events Included:
- dlr Community 5K – over 1,000 people of all ages and abilities.
- Older adult activity taster sessions and weekly programmes across 3 public leisure centres
- Promotion of Walking and Cycling – including a Family Fun Cycle for over 250 people and Operation Transformation walk for 360 participants
- Active Dance – TY girls programme using fun activity and education
Disability Sport Development & Programmes
- Assisting and supporting those with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity
- Inclusive Sport Programmes included; Access Sailing, Inclusive Cycling, NRH Spinal Championships, Boccia & Powerchair Football clubs, Feeling Good Event, Integrated Dance
- Awareness raising and capacity building with local partners
Fostering Active Communities:
Our goal for the next five years is that those who live, work in or visit our County will be active, healthy, and involved in sport & physical activity in their community. This will be achieved through the work and support of all local partners including the County Council, sports clubs, education providers and statutory agencies. While being inclusive of all ages, abilities and backgrounds particular attention will be focused on target groups that are recognised as having lower levels of participation.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership
01-271 9502
sportspartnership@dlrcoco.ie
www.dlrsportspartnership.ie
Jul 4, 2014
The Federation caught up with swimmer James Scully from Paralympics Ireland at the National Acquatic Centre recently. James talked about his fear of spiders, dinner with Jennifer Laurence and his dog Rocko!
Q1. What is your routine when you are training?
This year we’ve stepped it up again, were back in the NAC, it’s all evenings now. We train 7 times in the pool –once a day and then twice on Saturday and you’ll have about 3 gym sessions a week so you’re talking the guts of 20 hours training. In the weeks leading up to competitions that will increase – so this week we’ve had 9 sessions and an extra gym session – you’re getting about 40k done in the pool plus the gym plus physio, pilates. You build up to it, it’s what you have to do to get the results really.
Q2. What are your three most prized possessions?
Probably my first one is the medal from Montreal last year – Bronze medal in the World Championship. It’s my first and only for the moment international medal. It’s kinda a source of inspiration for me personally. Probably my car as well, love the car. Third prized possession, em probably the dog, the pet dog. He’s a valuable member of the family – he’s a good source of entertainment.
Q3. If you could invite 3 people to dinner – who would they be and why?
Let me think, first one would probably be Jennifer Laurence, obvious reasons (smile), she seems like good crack and stuff, obviously good looking. Second one, em let me think… Can you invite a team? The whole Dublin team, I’d bring the whole Dublin team to dinner, I’m a massive Dublin fan. And third one – Ian Thorpe, I find him a very interesting character I’d love to get to know him better, learn from his experiences
James said he’d have the entire Dublin team over for dinner!
Q4. What do you enjoy outside of sport?
Just literally the general things like anyone else, hanging out with the lads – obviously being a high performance athlete that has to be kinda not so much curtailed but managed better like you can’t be out drinking you can’t be out partying you have to keep things really focused but I still enjoy life with the lads going to the cinema driving around having the laughs
Q5. What’s your favourite film?
Favourite film hmmm…. Eh probably Saving Private Ryan to be honest – I’m big into the war films, I studied history in college so really enjoy that aspect.
Q6. What’s your favourite music?
To be honest I’m kinda into everything – the funny story with me is I’ve gone through every single phase. I’ve gone from rap phase, I was a rocker for awhile – I grew my hair long, listen to trans, I’ll listen to Il Divo at times (smile and a laugh). Really anything goes for me!
Q7. Any phobias?
Spiders! Arachnophobia big time. I dunno where it came from. One time I was asleep and I woke up and there was a huge spider down in the bed and normally I wouldn’t take any notice of this but this guy ran towards me so I just freaked and ever since I’ve had this weird thing of spiders. Not small spiders but the big guys with the big legs. Australia would be a no go for me!!
Q8. Any superstitions?
I’m not hugely superstitious but I suppose I’d kinda be give or take. I’d believe in fate not so much religious, but kinda chance and luck. I’d be a big believer in karma, I always believe when you do good something good is gonna happen to you, vice versa.
Q9. Do you have a sporting hero?
Ian Thorpe. I really admire him as an athlete, as a person as well even from what he said he’s been through. He suffered from huge depression, alcoholism problems like that. I really admire an athlete who especially a swimmer, all swimmers will know it’s a very lonely sport and everyone goes through a dark patch now and again. But to know that other really successful athletes have gone through, have emerged on top and really performed, he’s an inspiration to me and a massive role model
Q10. Where would you like to go on holidays – but you can’t have been there before?
Em let me think, I’d love to go to South America, I’ve heard it’s fairly mad down there, I’m kinda the person that would like to travel around. Swimming you get to travel around but you’re kinda stuck to the swimming pool or the hotel so you don’t really see much. Just a journey around and see what it’s like.
James chose South America as a destination he’d like to visit!
Q11. Any pets – you said you had your dog earlier?
Yeah we’ve the dog! My family we’ve had everything from rabbits to gerbils, hamsters to cats! (What’s the dog’s name?) Rocko, a small Jack Russell. He’s a character alright
Quickfire Round:
Twitter or Facebook
Twitter… oh no Facebook sorry, no I don’t like twitter
Movie or TV
Eh movies……
Chinese or Indian
Indian!
Early Night In or Late Night Out
I suppose I have to say early night in (laugh) but on my downtime I enjoy a night out with the lads. Bit of both – depending on whether I’m swimming or I’m on my downtime.
Jul 3, 2014
The Government’s commitment to sport and local communities was underpinned today when Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring announced grants of €40.5 million for 880 sports projects across the country.
Speaking at the announcement Minister Ring said: “Sports clubs and organisations are the lifeblood of communities across Ireland. I’m delighted to be able to show how much the Government values their role and contribution. Thanks to their largely voluntary work, these clubs and organisations are delivering on the Government’s target to get more people to be more active, more often.”
The €40.5 million allocated today is a 30% increase in funding over the €31 million allocated in the last Sports Capital Programme in 2012. The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s main vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.
A total of 2,036 applications were made under the 2014 Programme, the second highest number ever received under a Sports Capital Programme. A total of 821 of the successful allocations are towards local sports clubs and organisations, with the remaining 59 allocated to regional or national projects.
The facilities being funded today range from small-scale equipment grants, to regionally significant centres of sporting excellence.
This Government has now allocated over €85 million under the Sports Capital Programme since it came into office. Much of this funding has been allocated with the assistance of national governing bodies or local authorities. In the context of the tight budgetary situation, this level of funding shows a phenomenal commitment to sport and to local communities.
The allocations announced include funding for:
o Natural grass sports pitches, tracks and courts;
o Floodlighting;
o Artificial sports pitches, tracks, courts and multi-use games areas;
o Security fencing and ball stop netting;
o Hurling walls / handball alleys;
o Building or refurbishment of dressing rooms, showers and toilets;
o Building or refurbishment of sports halls and gyms;
o Non-personal sports equipment;
o Shared facilities;
o Permanently fixed outdoor gym equipment.
For a full break down of the grant by county click here
For a full break down of the grants given to non local sports allocations click here
The Federations Members received the following grants:
Athletics Association of Ireland – €200,000
Badminton Ireland – €150,000
Cricket Ireland – €60,000
Football Association of Ireland – €360,000
Gymnastics Ireland- €300,000
Irish Amateur Wrestling Association – €22,000
Irish American Football Association – €15,000
Irish Martial Arts Commission – €100,000
Irish Olympic Handball Association – €20,000
Irish Orienteering Association – €39,000
Irish Rugby Football Union – €100,000
Irish Table Tennis Association – €17,000
Irish Ten Pin Bowling Association – €3,000
Irish Tug of War Association – €17,252
Irish Wheelchair Association – Sport – €130,000
Paralympics Ireland – €200,000
Special Olympics Ireland – €17,000
Swim Ireland – €190,000
Triathlon Ireland – €150,000
Volleyball Association of Ireland – €62,000
Weightlifting Ireland – €26,000
Jul 1, 2014
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly today (Thursday 26 June 2014), speaking in advance of the first meeting of the Healthy Ireland Council in Dublin Castle, announced the appointment of Mr Keith Wood to the position of Chairperson of the Council. Mr Wood is a former Irish International rugby player and founding Director of W2 Consulting. Minister Reilly also announced the names of the 37 members of the Council and said that he was very impressed with the calibre of people who applied and were appointed.
President Michael D. Higgins has agreed to be the Patron of the Healthy Ireland Council.
“I am delighted that Keith Wood has accepted the position of Chairperson of the Healthy Ireland Council” said the Minister. “While he is best known as an outstanding sports star who did his province and country proud on many occasions, I am equally impressed by the commitment he has shown personally and in his business career to community and health related initiatives. I believe that given the passion and commitment he has displayed as a sportsman and the high esteem in which he is held by all sectors of society, Mr Wood is the ideal person to lead the important work that this Council will undertake in the coming years.”
Commenting on the appointment of Mr Wood and the Council members, An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny said “Healthy Ireland is an initiative aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland now and for generations to come. I am delighted to see so many leaders from different walks of Irish life coming together to endorse, support and drive Healthy Ireland. I am delighted that Keith Wood has agreed to chair the Council and I wish him and the Council every success at its inaugural meeting today and in its important work over the years ahead.”
Minister Reilly continued “The importance of the Healthy Ireland Council and its potential to contribute to the vision of a Healthy Ireland is underscored by the presence at today’s meeting of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation. The Healthy Ireland Council is integral to delivering the “whole of society” approach to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation. I see the Council as the champions for delivering the vision of a Healthy Ireland, where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society.”
Thanking the Minister for appointing him as Chairperson, Keith Wood said “I am honoured to accept the role of Chairperson of the Healthy Ireland Council. I understand the challenge of improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland and believe that the Council will bring a new approach to engaging all of society as agents of change. I look forward to playing my part in making health and wellbeing a priority for all of us and finding ways of encouraging everybody to understand the role they have to play in a healthier future.”
Jun 30, 2014
The Department published its annual report on 25th June highlighting the achievements in sport made during the year as well as outlining the priorities for 2014. Minister Varadkar outlined developments at the National Sports Campus (NSC):
“This was also an excellent year for sport with the opening of new multi-sport synthetic pitches and a pavilion for GAA, hockey, rugby and football at the National Sports Campus. These facilities will also be available to the public. Work will start this year on the new National Indoor Arena providing the first facility of its kind for indoor athletics, gymnastics and a host of other sports.”
The four actions commenced by the Department in Sport during 2013 were as follows-
- Develop new facilities at the National Sports Campus including access roads and multi-use pitches and a pavilion
- Promote Sport (Physical Education) as an examination subject
- Report on the feasibility of an Irish Museum of Sport
- Special sports capital programme for boxing and local authorities
Developments at the NSC also included the development of a new sport pavilion, equestrian arena, gymnastics and pentathlon facilities. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed proposals to change the way physical education (PE) is delivered at both junior and senior cycle in post-primary schools. ‘These proposals are in line with the Ministers’ priority in this area to promote sport (physical education) as an examination subject’ the report states. A committee, which includes the Federation of Irish Sport’s CEO, has been established by Minister Ring to examine the feasibility of developing a Museum of Sport and proposals are currently being reviewed in this regard. Finally a sports capital programme for boxing clubs and local authorities made awards of €2.98m in total.
‘Statistics at a glance’ provided in the report for 2013 include:
- €1.6m in grants to elite athletes under the International Carding Scheme and €6.8m under the High Performance Programme
- €7.9m to GAA, FAI and IRFU to increase participation by young people
- 67 medals at Olympic, Paralympic, World and European levels in sports supported by the Irish Sports Council
- Over 850,000 visits to the National Aquatic Centre
The report goes into more detail (pages 28-32) on the various areas of sport that the Department made progress on in 2013 and goals being set for 2014. The following headings summarise the achievements:
Sports Capital Programme (SCP)
In 2013, €13.5m was paid out to SCP grantees with a further €40m being earmarked for sports bodies in 2014. €1m was allocated to the IABA for upgrading of facilities in boxing clubs around the country. 37 grants amounting to €1.98m were made to city and county councils under the Sport Nation initiative joint funded by the Department and Irish Public Bodies Insurance (IPB).
Local Authority Swimming Pools
A total of €5.54m was paid out for new, replacement or refurbished Local Authority Swimming Pools in 2013.
Irish Sports Council
The ISC’s budget for 2013 was €43.5m which was a 2.5% reduction on the 2012 figure. 2014 has seen a further reduction to €42.5m which is hopefully the floor from which investment in sport shall be built, as indicated by the Minister at the recent Federation Annual Conference. The investment in the ISC has three central aims according to the report; increasing participation, improving standards in high performance sport and developing the capacity of the National Governing Bodies of Sport.
The Irish Sports Monitor 2013 half-year report highlighted that participation rates are thankfully continuing to increase with:
- 47% of the population participated in sport regularly (weekly) in 2013 compared to 44.5% in 2011.
- The levels of sedentary people have dropped from 13.2% in 2011 to 12.1% in 2013.
- Walking continues to grow in popularity with over 64.7% of Irish adults now walking for exercise on a weekly basis. Participation rates in recreational walking among Irish adults has grown significantly over the past five years and the ISC is continuing to work in partnership with a number of health and sport agencies to further increase participation rates in walking over the coming years.
National Governing Bodies of Sport
NGBs received 50% of all ISC funding in 2013 with a €7.9m investment going to the FAI, GAA, and IRFU to support their work in increasing youth participation. 59 other NGBs received €11.4m which helped them deliver ‘quality sport in Ireland, including administration, coach education and hosting and participating at international events.’
Local Sports Partnerships
31 LSPs received investment of €5.1m to provide national coverage for sports participation programmes and services aimed at increasing participation in sport. The partnership network also facilitated the employment of 16 Sports Inclusion Disability Officers.
Widening Participation in Sport
€600,000 was allocated to the ‘Go for Life’ programmes that aim to increase opportunities for older members to actively participate in recreational sport and physical activity, which included a €285,000 grant scheme. In addition, €800,000 was allocated to ‘Women in Sport’ programmes delivered through the LSPs and NGBs of sport.
Feasibility of Developing a Museum of Sport
The committee established by Minister Ring working on the feasibility of developing a museum has continued its work and the Department and the OPW have worked to identify sites. Failte Ireland has reviewed the tourism potential of a sports museum.
Anti-Doping
The Minister was appointed to the WADA Foundation Board for a period of 18 months from January 2013 and the World Conference on Anti-Doping in Sport endorsed a revised World Anti-Doping Code.
Organisational Capability Building (OCB)
The ISC HR and OCB Unit deliver services in the areas of: project management, governance, risk management, strategic planning, change management, employee performance and organisational leadership. A new strategy was worked on in 2013 and launched in 2014.
Coaching
In 2013, 22,903 coaches qualified along with 104 tutors while 1,921 courses were approved by Coaching Ireland.
National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA)
The NSCDA developed a new pavilion with community sports pitches located adjacent which facilitate four major field sports- GAA, hockey, rugby and soccer. The National Diving Training Centre, Horse Sport Arena and the National Modern Pentathlon Centre now mean that the five sports of modern pentathlon can now be catered for on the site of the NSC, the only such facility in Europe. The completion of a new internal feeder road allows access to the entire NSC site and the refurbishment of an old farm residence allows high performance athletes to now stay and train on the campus. In April 2013 Irish Sport HQ was opened and now houses 19 NGBs. The budget in October 2013 provided funding for the National Indoor Arena which is anticipated to commence construction in 2014 with a completion date at the end of 2016. The ISC and the IIS announced plans for the development of a High Performance Training Centre at the campus which will commence in 2014 and be completed in mid-2015 to allow use before the 2016 Olympics.
NSCDA (Operations) Limited
This subsidiary of the NSCDA manages the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) and Morton Stadium as well as any new facilities coming on stream at the campus. During 2013, 850,000 visits were made to the NAC making it one of the top five paying visitor attractions in the country. Over 9,000 people attended swim academies at the NAC. Morton Stadium hosted a number of national events as well as a European League meet in June 2013.
Appendix 6 (page 43) outlines the ‘Minister’s Priorities for 2014’ which include:
- Contribute fully to the Government’s efforts to reduce the deficit, generate economic growth and increase employment;
- Publish new Tourism and Aviation policies and begin work on a Masterplan for Sport;
- Publish/Enact the following legislation:
- Lay the foundations for a bid for the Rugby World Cup;
- Make new allocations for facilities and equipment under the Sports Capital Programme;
- Develop facilities at the National Sports Campus including the commencement of work on the National Indoor Arena;
The Full Report can be downloaded here
