Jul 18, 2019
- Research to evaluate value of sport to the economy first major evaluation study since 2010
- Irish sports industry supports 40,000 jobs, stimulates €1.9 billion in household spending, and generates €1 billion in tourism receipts each year
The Federation of Irish Sport is partnering with specialist bank Investec to undertake a body of research to capture the economic value and impact of sport in Ireland.
The Federation of Irish Sport is the representative organisation for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in Ireland. The Federation’s membership consists of over 100 NGBs and LSPs from all 32 counties, including the GAA, FAI, IRFU, Swim Ireland and Athletics Ireland.
The research, which will be led by Investec Ireland’s award-winning economic research team, will evaluate the value of sport to the economy, government, social welfare and volunteering, as well as its health and social benefits.
Sport is believed to be worth in excess of €2.4 billion to the Exchequer; supports more than 40,000 jobs (2013) and generates €1 billion in tourism receipts annually. According to a 2018 Onside Report, the sports sponsorship market has grown from €75 million in 2009 to €140 million in 2018, representing an 87% increase over ten years.
The wider sports community is complemented by an additional 450,000 volunteers whose contribution in economic terms is between €322 million and €582 million annually, based on data dating back to 2010.
In 2010 the Irish Sports Council commissioned the Indecon Report to assess the economic impact of sport in Ireland. The report concluded that following a total state investment of €618.3 million in 2008, the Exchequer received €922.7 million in taxes from sports-related activity. In effect, for every €100 invested by the Government, it received €149 in sports-related taxes.
The Irish Sports Policy 2018–2027, published in July 2018, saw the Government pledge to double sports funding from €111 million per year to €220 million over a ten-year period, including an 11% increase in capital funding in the 2019 Budget.
Speaking about the new study Federation of Irish Sport CEO, Mary O’Connor said;
“It is nine years since the sports community last undertook a piece of research of this scale. All economic indicators suggest sport’s economic value to Ireland has grown significantly in the intervening period. Sponsorship money has nearly doubled, tourism receipts are up, more adults are participating in organised sport than ever before, volunteer numbers continue to grow and attendances at major sports events remain buoyant.
“To this end, we are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Investec to identify the economic impact and economy value of sport to Ireland in 2019, and to understand how it feeds into the economic vibrancy of other stands of the economy, including tourism and hospitality, retail, health and wellbeing and fitness.
“In July 2018, the Irish Government published its National Sports Policy 2018-2027. Included in this was a commitment to double investment in sport from €111 million to on to €222 million annually over the next ten years We believe that the outcome of the study will endorse the government’s decision to make this investment which is of course also an investment in the future health and wellbeing of our people.
This Government investment will help give Irish sport the necessary building blocks to further develop its economic footprint in Ireland, by improving sporting infrastructures and growing its participation rates, which will in turn create further opportunities for corporate investment, sponsorship and collaboration.”
The Investec research findings will be published in September 2019.
ENDS
Jul 15, 2019
GymEDGE is a sports coach development programme that uses core fundamental gymnastics skills and training techniques to build the complete athlete or player. GymEDGE is for any coach, from any sport, with any ability, who is interested in making their athletes or players better at their own sport by giving them the edge.
The Continuous Professional Development programme is composed of workshops covering three main areas: 1. Gymnastics Fundamental Movement Skills, 2. Flexibility & Stretching and 3. Physical Preparation.
Workshop 1. Fundamental Movements Skills
Cost: €65pp without resource or €80pp including resource.
Bookings & Payment: Please book online in our store – http://store.gymnasticsireland.com/workshops/
Clubs/ Groups/ NGBs: We would be delighted to run a sports specific F.M.S. workshop for your club, group or NGB. If you are interested, or want to find out more please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please Note: All candidates will be covered by Gymnastics Ireland’s Public Liability Insurance Policy.
Brief Workshop Description: • 6 hour practical based workshop • No coaching experience necessary • Candidates must be 16 years old or over to attend • Receive a Certificate of Attendance • Resource available • Workshop includes a variety of sessions including: – Warm-up & dynamic stretching – Jumping & landing – Rolling – Balancing (static and dynamic) – Transference of gymnastics skills – Session planning
For more information & booking enquiries: www.gymnasticsireland.com aimi@gymnasticsireland.com 087 238 3930 01 625 1125
Jul 12, 2019
DUBLIN, IRELAND – Ireland Lacrosse has announced its roster for the Women’s Senior National Team, which is set to compete in the ELF European Championship, in Netanya, Israel from 16-25 July 2019. The Ireland team enters the tournament ranked 5th in Europe. The Green Machine will compete in the Blue Division against other women’s lacrosse powerhouses including England, Wales, Scotland, Israel and Germany.
The team returns nine players from the 2017 World Cup, and two players from the 2015 European Championship. Six players will be seeking their first cap as members of the Irish National Team.
Cacki Helmer has taken the reins as Head Coach, and will lead the team in her 3rd tournament on staff. Hilary Bowen O’Dougherty and Catherine Conway also return for their 3rd international tournament. Alyson Neagle returns as Athletic Trainer/Physio after a superb performance at the 2017 World Cup.
Coach Helmer “Our 2019 European Championships team will feature several key veteran players, as well as some fresh faces to the National Team. The promise of our program’s potential rises each year, and with new players working their way onto our Senior National Team, we are reminded of the rewards of hard work and the growth of the game of lacrosse. Much of the growth of our game in Ireland is due to the passion and motivation of our senior players. It is with this drive and determination to spread lacrosse throughout Ireland that we have high hopes as a coaching staff for a successful 2019 European Championship run.”
Jul 12, 2019
Freelancer Niamh Griffin wins the monthly Investec 20×20 Media Award with feature on the emerging importance of PE for sports participation for teenage girls
Niamh Griffin is the Investec 20×20 Media Awards winner for the month of June. Niamh is a freelance journalist, writing mainly about health and sport. Her work appears regularly in The Irish Times (sports pages) and The Irish Mail on Sunday in Ireland. Prior to that, she was the health correspondent for the Irish Mail on Sunday while she continues to write for The BMJ in the UK.
Niamh’s winning article published in the Irish Times entitled: “Leaving Certificate PE is a whole new ball game” is an enticing examination on the potential impact of PE becoming a Leaving Certificate subject. With compelling insights and anecdotes from a range of sources, it debates how the newly adopted Leaving Cert subject could pave the way for more teenage girls to find their sport by securing access to a wider variety of activities in a more formal and structured manner, thus reducing the high dropout rate for girls from sport.
Anna Kessel, Investec 20×20 Media Awards judging panel Chair, said: “It’s great to see the issue of school sport, and how to better engage girls in particular, given a prominent placing in a major publication like the Irish Times. This is a story that can encourage a change in attitudes to physical activity at a time when our kids are less active than ever. As someone who is unfamiliar with Irish state exams, it was great to read about the positive implications of PE becoming a Leaving Cert subject and how it will hopefully curb dropout rates for girls from sport. This new curriculum represents an exciting opportunity for more sports to reach new audiences and change the landscape of school sport for the 21st century.”
Michael Cullen, CEO, Investec said: “Niamh Griffin’s piece not only highlights the importance of physical education for teenage girls and keeping them moving but also emphasises the opportunities for girls to find their place and how they can fit into sport. Whether that’s learning how to coach their peers or harnessing technology to help improve physical performance, physical education can now help address many of the important issues highlighted by the 20×20 initiative.”
Mary O’ Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport added: “The Federation of Irish Sport welcomed the introduction of PE as a Leaving Certificate subject. Niamh’s article rightly points out how it will give girls the opportunity to take greater control while improving their knowledge and personal skills in sports and exercises of their choice. In doing so, it will enable girls to learn about how best to prepare their body and mind to enjoy sport and have a pathway to excel if that is their desire.”
The Investec 20×20 Media Awards recognise and reward excellence in Irish journalism focused on Women in Sport. Investec is a proud sponsor of 20×20, an initiative presented by The Federation of Irish Sport which calls on the people of Ireland to provide more support for women in sport. In demonstrating its commitment to the initiative, Investec has created this new awards scheme to help change the perceptions of women’s sport. The Investec 20×20 Media Awards recognises that increased visibility will lead to greater cultural recognition of girls and women in sport.
// ENDS
For media enquiries please contact The Reputations Agency, (01) 661 8915: Gareth Field, 087 897 5484 gareth@thereputationsagency.ie or Catherine Walsh, 087 268 9532, catherine@thereputationsagency.ie.
The winning article can be found online at: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/leaving-certificate-pe-is-a-whole-new-ball-game-1.3885222
To put forward an entry for July Investec 20×20 Media Award and to win €1,000, please visit: https://www.investec.com/en_ie/welcome-to-investec/press/2019-investec-media-awards.html.
Jul 11, 2019
Rowing Ireland has launched their funding initiative Greenblades
10/07/19
Rowing Ireland has launched Greenblades, this new initiative has been created to help fund the Junior, Under 23 and Developmental Teams by means of donations. Currently, developmental rowers rely on support from their family and friends as well as Rowing Ireland in order to compete at the highest level for their country.
It takes a lot to be an international rower and our stars like Sanita Puspure, Paul and Gary O’Donovan have been supported on their development before they reached the level that they are at today.
Greenblades will ensure that athletes who are representing Ireland will be supported to reach their full potential and can compete at the highest level possible.
Rowing Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Carpenter said “It is key that we do everything to support our up and coming athletes as we prepare to successfully support their future careers by giving them the opportunity to row in Paris and beyond.
These athletes are the future of Irish Rowing and we need not only to think about the next two years but also about the next four and eight years.
Rowing should be accessible to everyone who wants to compete, be it at Domestic or High-Performance level, and with this, in mind, we need to ensure that we support them in every way possible.”
Donations for our athletes can be made: www.greenblades.ie
All donations will go directly to the athletes who will be competing at U23 Championships in Sarasota USA and Junior World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
ENDS
Video for Launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFaOOoxWjps
Jul 10, 2019
Press release – 10 July 2019
Ireland’s sports organisations call for urgent reform of the insurance sector
The Alliance for Insurance Reform, the group which brings together representative bodies from the not-for-profit, charity, sports and small and medium-sized business sectors across Ireland, has today been joined by two major new member organisations – Sport Ireland and the Federation of Irish Sport. Both organisations are calling for an end to crippling insurance costs which have become a significant issue for sporting bodies and sports activity throughout Ireland.
Director of Participation and Ethics at Sport Ireland Una May said: “On a daily basis we are hearing how risk aversion due to the fear of claims is having a prohibitive effect on the work of our National Governing Bodies for Sport and Local Sports Partnerships. Their ability to develop new and innovative programmes to engage people in sport and increase participation in physical activity is being curtailed significantly. We are also seeing situations where organisations and groups are having difficulty in securing insurance in the first instance.
Dr May continued: “Sport Ireland has joined the Alliance for Insurance Reform as we feel that if the current trend continues, it will have a damaging effect on the sporting landscape at all levels, from major national and international events to everyday club activities. Our sporting organisations, clubs, athletes and volunteers need to be protected from the devastating impact of rising insurance costs and the fear of claims. Real and substantive change is required now.”
Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said: “The Federation of Irish Sport has joined together with the Alliance for Insurance Reform in response to our members’ concerns about rising insurance premiums.
“In a recent survey conducted by the Federation, 97% of our members revealed that their insurance premiums have gone up in the last 5 years on average by 45%. In one instance a member’s insurance has gone up by 108% in that time frame. Insurance is becoming an increasing burden for all our sporting bodies and will continue to have a negative impact on the delivery of sport and physical activity opportunities in Ireland and the situation urgently needs to be addressed.
“Based on these concerns we have acted to represent our sporting bodies at the table of the Alliance for Insurance Reform in the hope of seeing meaningful and lasting change made to address these ever-increasing costs. We are committed to working with our members and those involved in the insurance industry to make the necessary changes so that sport can continue to function at its best in Ireland”.
Peter Boland, spokesperson for the Alliance for Insurance Reform, said: “It is a damning indictment of Ireland’s insurance crisis that two significant national sporting bodies feel obliged to join our Alliance.
Crippling insurance costs are pervasive across all areas of Irish society and despite the varied make-up of our Alliance members, one common thing is threatening their ability to function day to day – rising insurance premiums.
“The slow pace of reform to address the insurance crisis is seriously threatening the survival of these bodies’ members and countless other civic, voluntary and business groups yet we still haven’t seen any real changes that will reduce premiums for policy holders.”
Boland added: “Despite all the promises we have heard, we have yet to see tangible evidence of reforms that will make a real difference. Reforms like the establishment of a fully-funded and resourced Garda response to fraudulent claims, a meaningful reduction in the level of general damages being awarded for minor, fully-recovered injuries or a commitment from the insurance industry to quantify the scale of promised premium reductions.”
With the arrival of the Federation of Irish Sport and Sport Ireland, the Alliance for Insurance Reform now brings together 28 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 36,000 members, 640,000 employees and 493,000 volunteers in demanding rapid action to end crippling insurance costs.
