Ministers Catherine Martin and Thomas Byrne will launch Ireland’s first-ever Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework today.
The event will take place at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Thursday, October 17th, with a presentation and Q&A session.
Ireland has published its first Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework, aimed at enhancing the country’s ability to host significant sporting events while building on its past successes.
The policy was developed through extensive consultation with sports bodies and stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of major events in boosting tourism, sports participation, and the national economy.
Key priorities for future events include economic returns, enhancing sporting opportunities, maximising use of existing infrastructure, and ensuring alignment with government policies on sustainability, diversity, and integrity in sports.
The framework will be further elaborated with detailed objectives and action points, and a working group of stakeholders will be established to outline long-term goals for effectively managing international sports events in Ireland.
Minister Catherine Martinshared: “It is important that when we invest in Major Sports Events we are clear about the benefits we wish to achieve from that investment. This policy and strategy framework will guide officials, national governing bodies of sport and event promoters in developing proposals for major international sports events to deliver optimal outcomes and benefits. Sport-related tourism is a very significant element of world tourism, with a multi-million euro market and a huge potential for countries who position themselves correctly. Major International Sports Events provide a unique opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination, as well as a top location for sporting events.”
Minister Thomas Byrne shared: “Ireland has proven its ability to successfully host major international sports events on numerous occasions in the past and the publication of this policy seeks to build on that success. As well as being great sporting occasions in themselves, major international sports events have the potential to drive participation in sport and create meaningful sporting legacies. They contribute to trade, tourism, community engagement, regional development and economic growth. These events also drive national pride by placing Ireland on the global stage and affect both how we see ourselves as a nation and how we are viewed internationally. In publishing Ireland’s first-ever Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework, the Government is setting out a more strategic approach when it comes bidding for, and hosting, major international sports events. We want to maximise the benefits for Ireland and ensure a lasting sports participation legacy whenever Ireland hosts such events. I look forward seeing this work further advanced.”
