Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I chair a high-level co-ordinating group which is identifying opportunities for Ireland that may arise across the sports, tourism, cultural and enterprise sectors as a result of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. One objective is to attract international teams and athletes for training camps. To date, four international teams have chosen the National Aquatic Centre , NAC, as a training base. Last month, the NAC hosted the Hungarian and British water-polo men's senior squads for a training camp and two international matches, while the US Olympic synchronized swimming squad and the British paralympic swimming squad have also chosen the NAC as a training base. A number of other sports facilities such as those at UCD and the University of Limerick are also directly promoting their facilities to attract international teams and athletes. In addition, my Department has produced for widespread circulation a CD which contains the details of a number of Irish elite sports facilities that would be suitable as training camps. I would be happy to make a copy available to the Deputy. A difficulty in attracting teams and athletes is that cities in the United Kingdom are offering financial incentives to every national Olympic and Paralympic committee to locate in the United Kingdom to prepare in an approved pre-games training centre.

The co-ordinating group is also considering other potential benefits. The tourism agencies are working closely with a range of partners at home and overseas to maximise the tourism opportunities. Enterprise Ireland is actively pursuing opportunities for Irish business, while the cultural agencies are developing proposals for a cultural programme around the London games. The London 2012 co-ordinating group will continue to meet on an ongoing basis in the coming year to maximise opportunities across each of the sectors.

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