Young sporting talent must be nurtured

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Angela Smith has today emphasised the importance of helping Northern Ireland’s sporting talent to fulfil its potential.

The Minister was speaking at the BBC in Broadcasting House, where she was attending the presentation of awards made under the Sports Council for Northern Ireland’s 'Talented Athlete Programme', which aims to help both individuals and teams along the road to sporting success.

Mrs Smith said: “For a small country, Northern Ireland has, for many years, punched above its weight in international sporting circles. The success of our sportsmen and women gives everyone a boost and we take great pride in their achievements. However, despite such wonderful performances, there are many more people out there who, with a little help, also have the ability to be successful at a high level.

“Thanks to the National Lottery, the 'Talented Athlete Programme' is now giving our budding young talent, in a wide variety of sports, the opportunity to fulfil its potential. Since its introduction three years ago, 230 athletes have received almost £1.25 million and this year over 60 more are being helped to prepare for major competition."

The Minister reminded her audience of the importance of encouraging more people to get involved in sport. She said that while many of the back pages of local newspapers had recently been dominated by the special funding earmarked to tackle soccer’s difficulties, her budget announcement last December had also allocated an additional £12 million for all sports.

She explained: “Football has one of the highest levels of participation of any sport and interest in the game transcends virtually every social and community division in Northern Ireland. It occupies a unique place in our society and every effort must continue to be made to arrest its decline.

“However, important though this work is, it is not being taken forward at the expense of other sports. I expect to see all of them benefit from the significant increase in the budget available to the Sports Council and this is further evidence of the high priority which the Government attaches to sport in the Province.

“It is essential for the future of Northern Ireland that every sport flourishes and I am convinced that the awards being presented today, to help sportsmen and women, are a step along that path.”

The Minister was welcomed to the event by the Chairman of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Professor Eric Saunders, and by the BBC’s Manager of Public Affairs, Geraldine McCourt.

(MB)