Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the hosting of the Olympics in the UK is likely to benefit the tourism and sporting sectors here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the possible benefits in terms of sporting and tourism likely to accrue from the holding of the Olympics in the UK; the way this can benefit the island of Ireland as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17248/12]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. The tourism and sports agencies are represented on the London 2012 Coordinating Group which I am chairing and which is looking at opportunities for Ireland from the proximity of this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

Tourism Ireland is the north-south body established under the Good Friday agreement with responsibility for the overseas promotion of the entire island of Ireland as a tourist destination. The organisation has been rolling out a busy programme of promotional activity to target a wide range of potential visitors around the world in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games. This includes targeting Corporate Sponsors, promoting holiday package extensions to Ireland, targeting 'displaced' Londoners and promoting golf and Ireland as the 'Home of Major Champions.

On the sporting side, athletes from thirteen countries will train at the National Aquatic Centre in the lead up to the London Games including the US Synchronised Swim Team, the South Korean National Squad, the UK Paralympic Swimming Squad and swimmers from the Cayman Islands, Poland, Venezuela and Surinam. A pre-Olympic Water Polo Tournament taking place in the NAC in July will involve participation by Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany, Great Britain and current Olympic Champions Hungary. A number of other Olympic related events are also taking place in Ireland before the Games. Earlier this month, a Men's Hockey Olympic Qualifying Tournament was hosted at the National Hockey Stadium in UCD. In July, the World Youth Sailing Championships will take place in Dun Laoghaire while Morton Athletics Stadium in Santry will host a Pre-Games International Athletics Event.

Question No. 272 answered with Question No. 21.