Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will review the guidelines of the Irish Sports Council to exclude activities involving tens of thousands of people here, for example, chess and bridge, from recognition as a sport thus excluding them from grant support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20002/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sports Council (ISC) acknowledges that many people throughout the country participate in chess and bridge. However, the Council does not recognise these activities as they do not come within the definition of sport in the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, under which the Council was established on a statutory basis.

Under the Act, competitive sport is defined as "all forms of physical activity which, through organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and at obtaining improved results in competition at all levels" and recreational sport is defined as "all forms of physical activity which, through casual or regular participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being and at forming social relationships".

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the Irish Sports Council accepted the application by an organisation (details supplied) for recognition as a sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20003/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The organisation applied to the Irish Sports Council (ISC) on 27th March 2007 seeking approval as an eligible National Governing Body of Sport. The ISC Eligibility Committee met on 25th July 2007, to consider and decide on the application. The committee decided that the application does not comply with a number of essential criteria, including the requirement for the core activity to come within the definition of recreational or competitive sport as set out in the Sports Council Act, 1999 and the requirement for the organisation to be affiliated to the relevant recognised international sporting federation. The organisation has been advised of the decision of the Sports Council.