Delhi Delight For NI Sports

There has been further prais the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team for doubling their initial medal target at the Games in Delhi.

The Stormont Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland (pictured) was commenting after the Northern Ireland Team won four Bronze, three Silver and three Gold medals at the games in cycling, boxing, shooting and bowls.

As he met with members of the team as they returned to Belfast last week, the Minister said: "I would like to take this opportunity to convey my warmest congratulations to each member of the Northern Ireland team on their participation at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"Having attended the Games myself, I saw at first hand the hard work and dedication that each member of the team placed in their respective sport.

"It therefore came as no surprise to me that the team has achieved so much.

"I particularly would like to send my congratulations to the medal winners on their wonderful achievement, and all who achieved Personal Bests and Seasons Bests," commented.

"I would also congratulate the support team, in particular the Chef de Mission, Robert McVeigh, for their sterling work behind the scenes.

"When you bear in mind that the Commonwealth has a population of 2.1 billion people, with 71 teams taking part and over 4,000 athletes, we should be proud that Northern Ireland has done so well," he said, noting this has come about due to the unprecedented levels of funding being put into sport, which in the current year will reach approximately £55m of capital funding, with an additional £6m invested in sports revenue funding over the last three years.

"This is also proof of the benefits to be realised from investing in facilities such as the Sports Institute for Northern Ireland (SINI), a High Performance Centre that was developed with £12m of investment provided in 2006.

"As can plainly be seen by our success in Delhi, this investment is now starting to deliver results, and is another example of how devolved Government at Stormont is continuing to provide success for and benefits to the people of Northern Ireland.

"These Games have provided a unique opportunity for our athletes to gain experience of high level competition and this will prove invaluable as we now look ahead to the London 2012 Olympic Games."

Meanwhile, Nelson McCausland has also visited Lurgan Rugby, Football & Cricket Club and Lurgan Town Boys Football Club to view the improvements that both clubs have made to their facilities.

The Minister said: "I welcome the opportunity to see the developments made by both these clubs. It is particularly pleasing to note these facilities are open for use by all members of the local community.

"The Northern Ireland Executive, through Sport NI, has contributed over £400,000 to the development of these facilities in the past two years.

"This is another example of the Stormont delivering for the people of Northern Ireland at a local level, working in partnership with local clubs fully embedded in the community which is contributing positively to sport at all levels. Such investment in sport produces tangible results, no more evidenced than Northern Ireland's outstanding success in the Commonwealth Games."

(BMcC/GK)