Sep 14, 2020
- 46% of the Irish population (approximately 1.7 million people) participated in sport at least once a week in 2019
- Personal exercise remains the most popular activity (16%) followed by swimming (9%), running (7%), and cycling (4%)
- Significant reduction in the number of inactive adults
Approximately 1.7 million Irish adults participated in sport at least once a week in 2019 according figures published by Sport Ireland today. The Irish Sports Monitor 2019 shows that participation rates have grown by 3% since the publication of the 2017 edition, which equates to an additional 150,000 people.
Personal exercise remains the most popular activity for Irish adults at 16%, followed by swimming (9%), running (7%) and cycling (4%).
The Irish Sports Monitor has measured adult participation in sport and physical activity since 2007. The latest report, produced in conjunction with Ipsos MRBI, presents findings based on interviews with over 8,500 adults aged 16 and over conducted between January and December 2019.
Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, welcomed the positive upward trend: “The Programme for Government and the National Sports Policy set ambitious targets for increasing the number of adults regularly playing sport; the 3% increase in participation rates announced today is a solid start to that journey. The Government has committed to prioritise increasing female participation in sport as participants, coaches, referees and administrators. The decline in the gender gap in active participation to the lowest it has ever been at 3.4% is very welcome. This is testament to the increased number of opportunities being provided by our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and sports clubs around the country. The low number of sedentary people is encouraging, while the decrease in the disability gradient gap is also a positive development.”
The report finds that those who participate in sport and other forms of activity – both physically and socially – exhibit higher levels of positive mental health. Aside from the increase in active participation, improvements were also reported in the numbers attending events, taking up club membership or involved in volunteering – up to 47% from 45%.
Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD, added: “As we have seen over recent weeks and months, the community spirit and social capital generated by sport has played a valuable role in helping Ireland through the Covid-19 pandemic. It is heartening to see such strong numbers active and socially engaged, benefitting from the physical, mental and social dimensions of sport and physical activity. Volunteers are the lifeblood of sport in Ireland and it is encouraging to see such strong numbers dedicating their valuable time.”
The report found that there was significant reduction in the number of inactive adults i.e. those not regularly taking part in sport or recreational walking.
Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “It is very encouraging to see an increase in the number of people participating in sport and also in social participation through volunteering, club membership and attendance at sporting events. While the figures announced today are positive, there is always more that can be done to make sure everyone, no matter their age or background, has the opportunity to participate in sport in some capacity. The Board of Sport Ireland will continue to prioritise our efforts to increase participation right across all groups in our society. The insights gained from the Irish Sport Monitor are key to informing future actions in this regard.”
While the reports highlights many positives, a persistent social gradient in the proportion that is highly active exists in terms of socio-economic status, with those from lower socio-economic groups being both less likely to be highly active and more likely to be sedentary.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, said: “The findings announced published today are encouraging overall and results are moving in the right direction. In particular, it’s welcome to see sustained participation rates in the younger age groups in the 16-34 bracket, with over 90% of people participating in sport citing improving health and fitness as a motivating factor. Personal exercise remains the main driver or participation at 16%, which was reinforced by our recent reports on participation during Covid-19 restrictions that showed unprecedented numbers taking part individual activity. The challenge now is to provide opportunities to sustain and further grow this level of activity. The work of the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships is vital in achieving this.”
A copy of the 2019 Irish Sports Monitor Full Year Report and summary report can be downloaded here.
A summary for the key findings of the report can be downloaded here.
Key Findings Include:
- 46% of the population regularly take part in sport representing 1.7 million regular participants. This is an increase of 150,000 additional participants since 2017.
- Gender gap in participation continues to decline from 4.5% at end 2017 to 3.4% for 2019 report. This is the lowest gap reported, when the ISM was introduced in 2007 the gap was 15.7%.
- 47% are involved in a social form of sports participation (attending events, club membership or volunteering), this has increased from 45% in 2017.
- Those who do not participate in sport or recreational walking has decreased from 22% in 2017 to 20% in 2019.
- The disability gradient gap has decreased for those participating in sport to 17% as compared to 18% in 2017.
- The most popular sports to participate in are personal exercise (16%), swimming (9%), running (7%), cycling (4%) and dancing, yoga and soccer (3%) in the top 5 activities.
- Those that participate in sport and other forms of activity both physically and socially exhibit higher levels of positive mental health via energy and vitality.
ENDS.
For Further Information:
David Gash, Communications Manager, Sport Ireland
Email: dgash@sportireland.ie
Tel: 01-8608800
Mobile: 087-2277643
Notes to the Editor:
About the Irish Sports Monitor Full Year Report:
- The full year report provides insight on data collected January- December 2019.
- The ISM is based on telephone interviews conducted with 8,504 adults age 16 and older in the Republic of Ireland between January and December 2019.
- The ISM is written by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of Sport Ireland and provides information on active participation in sport and physical activity, club membership, volunteering and attendance at sporting events.
Sep 9, 2020
SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2020: Swim Ireland has today released a powerful new video to mark the launch of their ‘Return to Water’ campaign, encouraging their thousands of members nationwide to return to their local swimming pools and clubs. The video is both a celebration and a reminder of the unique connection enjoyed by everyone but in particular, Swim Ireland members with the water.
Swim Ireland, like many sporting organisations, are facing a challenging season. Autumn is the key period for membership renewals. The Return to Water Campaign is a reminder to their 20,000 strong membership not only that the necessary measures have been put in place to enable a safe Return to the Water but of the unique joy derived from being in the pool.
From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Swim Ireland have worked with Government, Sport Ireland, public health officials and aquatic facilities nationwide to develop comprehensive protocols to enable the safe return to pool-based sports including swimming, water polo and diving.
It is estimated that 80% of pools in the Republic and have now reopened in accordance with the Swim Ireland protocols and are looking forward to a full, albeit reduced capacity, for the season ahead across the breadth of Swim Ireland activities including Learn to Swim, competitive and Masters programme.
Despite the unprecedent cessation of all pool-based activity, Swim Ireland have been very successful in maintaining engagement with their members and have seen a huge increase in open-water swimming over the summer months whilst also running a very successful series of live webinars, training and coach education courses online many of which were oversubscribed.
Speaking about the Return to Water campaign, chairman of Swim Ireland, Peter Conway commented: “Never before have we faced a period where our swimming pools remained closed and inactive for such a long period of time. We are delighted that so many of our facility partners around the country are now in a position to re-open swimming pools and we are encouraging our members to get back into the water, whilst respecting the guidelines in place for their safety, in support of our sport and Swim Ireland. Now, more than ever, the support of Swim Ireland members in getting back to the pool is needed to ensure that our sport remains vibrant whilst continuing to grow and develop despite the different challenges we are all facing. The aquatic sports be it swimming, diving or water polo are more than just a sport, they are a life skill that can be called upon at any life stage to enjoy competitively or simply as a tool to enhance physical and mental well-being. We are really looking forward to reconnecting as a Swim Ireland family not just online but at last back in the water where we all belong.”
Further information on the ‘Return to Water’ campaign and the supports that are available for clubs, members and the wider swimming community is available at swimireland.ie.
You can view the video for the ‘Return to Water’ campaign here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoYhBNfhPz0&feature=youtu.be
ENDS
For more information:
Trish Mayon, Swim Ireland trishmayon@swimireland.ie / 0868094786
Sep 8, 2020
Over the past six months, we’ve seen an increased number of people out on their bikes all across the country. Through the AXA Community Bike Rides programme, there is a great opportunity for people to connect with others in their area.
The programme provides free training to volunteer leaders, so they can lead safe and social, small group rides in their local communities. Leaders get to choose the day, time, distance and route of all their rides, and through our online platform, we can track and monitor all participation on these free bike rides.
Could you be a leader in your area? As an AXA Community Bike Ride Leader, you’ll inspire others to be passionate about cycling. You’ll get the chance to develop your leadership skills and make new friends while improving your own health and fitness. You don’t need to be a cycling expert, just a confident cyclist with lots of enthusiasm to support others!
All leaders are trained and vetted and given access to our online system to create and promote their bike rides. Leaders are provided with free insurance cover for their bike rides; a starter pack of promotional materials and a leader gilet; and can access benefits and rewards for taking part.
For the safety of our tutors and potential leaders, all courses will take place at hotel venues, with the room set-up classroom style and 2m social distancing between all attendees. Rooms will have external opening windows/doors for natural ventilation and attendees will work on an individual basis throughout the day (with the exception of the bike skills assessment and bike ride) to limit the interaction within the group. Everyone attending will be required to complete a self-assessment personal screening questionnaire in advance.
These venues have been chosen as each hotel has a Covid-19 policy in place and all rooms will be cleaned and sanitised in advance. Spaces are limited so if you are interested in accessing free training and becoming a leader in your area, please check out our new website page for full details – https://www.axacommunitybikerides.com/be-a-leader and register your interest here.
AXA Community Bike Ride Leader training courses will take place on the following dates:
Saturday 5th September – Dublin
Saturday 12th September – Galway
Saturday 19th September – Athlone
Saturday 26th September – Belfast
Saturday 3rd October – Kilkenny
Saturday 10th October – Longford
Saturday 17th October – Cork
Saturday 24th October – Newry
Saturday 31st October – Mayo
Saturday 7th November – Dublin
For more information, please contact the AXA Community Bike Rides
Coordinator, Mary Corry – mary.corry@cyclingireland.ie or
Development Officer, Nicole Evans – axacommunitybikerides@cyclingireland.ie
Sep 3, 2020
Slam Dunk specialist Lorcan Murphy and fellow Irish international Hannah Thornton are urging the basketball community to continue curbing the spread of Covid-19, as they fronted the launch of Basketball Ireland’s ‘Slam Dunk Covid-19’ awareness campaign.
Speaking at the launch at the National Basketball Arena, Templeogue Basketball Club player Lorcan Murphy said: “I am really looking forward to the season starting, whenever that may be and if we all continue to take stock of the key messages launched today, it will help us get back sooner rather than later.”
DCU Mercy and Irish international Hannah Thornton added: “As a player, we can’t wait to get back onto the court and get back to the new normal. It is great that Basketball Ireland have launched this campaign and I would encourage everyone to get fully behind it and do all they can to help kill the virus.”
Watch the campaign video here: https://youtu.be/s_hWzUCiOEc
Speaking at the ‘Slam Dunk Covid-19’ campaign launch, CEO of Basketball Ireland Bernard O’Byrne said: “As an organisation Basketball Ireland will continue to adhere to government and HSE guidelines, but ultimately this battle will be won or lost by individual attitudes – of players, coaches, parents, officials and volunteers. We have come along way as a community, but we must ensure we continue to drive forward and do all we can to fight against this virus. Please be an ambassador for this campaign and spread the word – Let’s Slam Dunk Covid-19!”
As part of the campaign Basketball Ireland has launched ‘Basketball Ireland’s Covid Hero’ competition. The award is to recognise and reward inspirational, hardworking and dedicated members of the basketball community, who have done their best in managing Covid-19 within their clubs during this time. If you know a coach, player, official, volunteer, parent or other who deserves to be celebrated as a ‘Basketball Ireland’s Covid Hero’, please submit 100 words to covidhero@basketballireland.ie outlining why the person deserves this award. When restrictions allow and basketball has returned to action, a team from the winning person’s club will be invited to the National Basketball Arena for a 2-hour coaching session with a top international coach, plus a few extras. Please include the following details in your submission:
- Your name and contact details
- Nominees name, contact and club details
- 100 words maximum why this person deserves the award
- Please include COVID HERO in the subject line of your email entry
The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday October 2nd, with the winner announced on Friday October 9th. Full competition details are on the Basketball Ireland website
Interviews with Irish internationals Lorcan Murphy and Hannah Thornton and Basketball Ireland CEO, Bernard O’Byrne, are available request.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Nathaniel Cope
Media & Communications Manager
ncope@basketballireland.ie
086 174 3851
Aug 27, 2020
TG4 has announced details of its exclusive live television coverage of Tour de France 2020, the most famous cycling race in the world.
The stations live coverage of the Tour begins on Saturday morning with coverage from the Le Course Women’s Tour de France event.
All three weeks of the Tour will be broadcast live on TG4 (see times below) from Saturday 29 August to the final stage on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday 20 September.
There will be an average of five hours of live coverage each day as well as a daily half hour highlights programme every night at 9pm that will include all the action from the days racing as well as previews, results and interviews.
Commentary will be provided by Páidí Ó Lionáird and Pádraic Ó Cuinn.
The Tour will also be broadcast live on the TG4 Player on www.tg4.tv and the website will also offer updates, statistics and other Tour data.
The 2020 Tour de France is scheduled to be the 107th edition of the Tour, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours. Originally scheduled to start on 27 June 2020, it was postponed until 29 August due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.
– Live coverage of each Stage from Saturday 29 August onwards.
– Daily half-hour highlights programme each night at 9pm
– Live coverage on the TG4 Player on www.tg4.tv
– The 7th edition of La Course Women’s Tour de France will take place on Saturday morning on a 96-kilometre course with the start and finish in Nice. Coverage begins on TG4 at 9am.
COVERAGE ON TG4 – Tour de France
DATES STAGE DISTANCE CITIES TG4 COVERAGE BEGINS
Saturday 29 August La Course 96 km La Course – Women’s Tour de France Cycling Race – Venue: NICE 9am to 11.50am
Saturday 29 August 1 156 km NICE MOYEN PAYS to NICE 12.50pm
Sunday 30 August 2 186 km NICE HAUT PAYS to NICE 11.50am
Monday 31 August 3 198 km NICE to SISTERON 11.00am
Tuesday 1 September 4 160.5 km SISTERON to ORCIÈRES-MERLETTE 12.15pm
Wednesday 2 Sept 5 183.5 km GAP to PRIVAS 12.00pm
Thursday 3 September 6 191 km LE TEIL to MONT AIGOUAL 10.50am
Friday 4 September 7 168 km MILLAU to LAVAUR 12.15pm
Saturday 5 September 8 141 km CAZÈRES-SUR-GARONNE to LOUDENVIELLE 12.20pm
Sunday 6 September 9 153.5 km PAU to LARUNS 11.05am
Monday 7 September REST DAY – LA ROCHELLE / CHARENTE-MARITIME
Tuesday 8 September 10 168.5 km ILE D’OLÉRON Le Château-d’Oléron to ILE DE RÉ Saint-Martin-de-Ré 12.20pm
Wednesday 9 Sept 11 167.5 km CHÂTELAILLON-PLAGE to POITIERS 12.15pm
Thursday 10 Sept 12 218 km CHAUVIGNY to SARRAN Corrèze 10.40am
Friday 11 September 13 191.5 km CHÂTEL-GUYON to PUY MARY Cantal 10.40am
Saturday 12 September 14 194 km CLERMONT-FERRAND to LYON 11.55am
Sunday 13 September 15 174.5 km LYON to GRAND COLOMBIER 11.15am
Monday 14 Sept REST DAY – GRENOBLE / ISERE
Tuesday 15 September 16 164 km LA TOUR-DU-PIN to VILLARD-DE-LANS 11.55am
Wednesday 16 Sept 17 170 km GRENOBLE to MÉRIBEL Col de la Loze 11.05am
Thursday 17 Sept 18 167.5 km MÉRIBEL to LA ROCHE-SUR-FORON 10.55am
Friday 18 September 19 166.5 km BOURG-EN-BRESSE to CHAMPAGNOLE 12.20pm
Saturday 19 Sept 20 36.5 km LURE > LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES (Individual Time Trial) 11.50am
Sunday 20 September 21 122.5 km MANTES-LA-JOLIE to PARIS CHAMPS-ELYSÉES 2.35pm
More information:
https://www.letour.fr/en/
Information about the La Course Women’s Tour de France on www.lacoursebyletourdefrance.com/en
Aug 27, 2020
Ryan Mullen and Ben Healy represented Ireland at the UEC European Road Championships in Plouay, France on Monday, August 24th.
19-year old Ben Healy was first to race in the green of Ireland taking to the start line for a 25.6-kilometre race against the clock in the U23 Individual Time Trial. Healy’s time of 32:51.22 was good enough for 16th place, averaging a blistering 46.75 kilometres per hour. The U23 Time Trial was won by Andreas Leknessund of Norway with Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) claiming silver and IIan Van Wilder (Belgium) third. Healy’s Trinity Racing teammate Thomas Pidcock was just outside the medals in 4th place.
Ryan Mullen, a bronze medallist from 2017, was aiming for more silverware but it was not to be as he finished 8th in a time of 31:59.46. It was another strong ride from the four-time Time Trial National Champion who has consistently finished in the top-10 at major Championships in recent years.
Stefan Kung (Switzerland) was crowned European Champion and will wear the jersey in the Tour de France, due to start this weekend. Rémi Cavagna (France) finished runner-up followed by Victor Campenaerts (Belgium) four seconds behind in third.
Full Results Here
