Federation of Irish Sport Annual Review 2013 THE ROLE OF SPORT IN IRELAND TODAY The Federation of Irish Sport is the independent voice for sport in Ireland representing 72 National Governing Bodies of Sport and 28 Local Sports Partnerships Our Vision Our Strategic To provide a dynamic and effective voice for Irish Goals Sport, promoting the value • To ensure that sport is • To increase the of sport to Ireland while recognised and used operational providing outstanding by government as a key effectiveness of representation and tool in the creation of a our members services to members better Ireland • To strengthen resources • To be the independent through strategic and authoritative voice partnerships Our Values of Irish Sport Unity & Leadership, • To raise public Commitment & Service, awareness of the Progressive, Accountability contribution of sport & Integrity and the work of our members to Irish society 2013: 40,000 Irish Sport by Numbers jobs supported by Irish Sport €2,400,000,000 16,581 the contribution of sport to the Irish economy took part in the An Post Cycle Series in five counties €755,000,000 generated by Recreational Angling with 2,636 150,000 visitors supporting 10,000 jobs primary school coaching sessions delivered by the FAI €202,000,000 the value to the Irish economy of overseas 150 golf visitors countries around the world watched the Heineken Cup final at the Aviva Stadium €43,200,000 the Irish Sport Council Budget for 2013 67 international podium finishes for Irish Athletes €10,000,000 in 2013, up from 61 in 2012 the economic value of the Airtricity Dublin Marathon 47% of adults participating in sport each week 1,064,000 people watched the All Ireland Football Final 5 between Dublin and Mayo on RTE of the top 20 most watched programmes on RTE in 2013 were sports events 500,000 adults volunteered in Irish Sport each week 2 Cricket Ireland teams qualifying for the men’s and women’s 20-over World Cup and the Cricket World 245,333 Cup itself hours of physical activity provided by the GAA in Ireland’s schools 1 Federation of Irish Sport representing 72 National 200,000 Sports Organisations and 28 Local Sports people participated in locally delivered Partnerships in Ireland programmes A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT NO MattER HOW You looK at it In 2013 the government invested • Martin Irvine became the first Irish cyclist to win approximately €75 million in Irish Sport. a world track title in 117 years, a World Cup gold, This figure included €43.2 million in current winning silver in the points race at the World funding which is the budget administered Championships and a European bronze by the Irish Sports Council which supports high performance sport, the National • Leinster winning the Amlin Challenge Cup against Governing Bodies of Sport, the Local Sports Stade Francais in front of a crowd of 20,396 at Partnerships and all of the programmes which the RDS these organisations deliver every year. The • The 13 medals won by Ireland’s sailors including remainder was invested in the sports capital a European gold for Annalise Murphy programme, the continuing development of the National Sports Campus and in the Local • Irish Squash Senior Women’s team winning a silver Authority swimming pool programme. medal at the European Team Championships in May, In 2013, the investment in sport by the along with a 6th place at the World Championships government was the catalyst behind: • The 15 medals won by Paralympic athletes at Senior • Rob Heffernan’s gold medal in the 50km walk World Championships in sports of Athletics, Cycling at the World Athletics Championships & Swimming • The Irish Men’s Cricket team becoming the first • Natalya Coyle and Eanna Bailey winning Silver in team ever to win three ICC events in three different the Mixed Relay in February, being Ireland’s first formats in a season. ever medal at a World Cup competition in Modern Pentathlon • Ireland Women’s Rugby Team winning the Grand Slam for the first time ever • Aileen Reid’s silver medal at the World Series Grand Final in London which was watched by a viewing • Fiona Doyle winning silver medal in 100m audience of 41 million Breaststroke at the World University Games setting a new Irish Senior Record • Jason Quigley winning silver at the World Championships and Irish Boxing winning 20 medals • The Irish Junior Eventing Team winning Gold at the in 2013 European Championships • 20,000 participating in Women in Sport programmes • Barry Murphy winning bronze medal in 50m Breaststroke at the European Short Course • Daniel McKenna winning the British Rally Swimming Championships Championship and Craig Breen finished second in European Rally Championship. • Dan Martin and Nicholas Roche winning stages of the Grand Tours of Cycling • Jack Kennedy finishing 7th position overall in World Supersport motorcyling AnnUal REVIEW 2013 1 “Sport is important. It enriches all our lives LIVING BEttER and has the potential to do even more – and it THROUGH deserves Government support. It should not SPORT merely be ‘nice to do’ if there are funds available.” Federation Annual Review 2009 Sarah O’Connor Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Irish Sport Government Investment, which began • Minimise the future cuts to current consistently in 1997, facilitated improved funding. development and administration of • Ensure sport was represented at Cabinet. sport that is now delivering results both in terms of improved consistency of • Reinstate the Sports Capital Programme. performance on the international stage • Develop the National Sports Campus. as well as increasing participation rates so Much of this has been delivered and credit vital to public health in Ireland. Irish Sport must go to Ministers Varadkar and Ring not is in a good place and we have sought just for their commitment to and belief in in the pages that follow to detail some sport but for the progress made to date, of the work carried out by our member particularly in terms of the development organisations in 2013 designed to ensure of the National Sports Campus and the that this is sustained. reinstatement of the Sports Capital These improvements cannot however, Programme. However, it is the first of be taken for granted. Without continued these requests – the minimising of cuts to investment in sport from both public and current funding – that has proved the most Irish sport once again provided private sources much of this progress could challenging with overall investment levels some of the highlights of 2013... easily become undone. The reality in sport down 27.1% since 2008. be it the Irish Women securing the being that the money spent today has a This funding, most of which is invested in Grand Slam, Tony McCoy riding his significant impact on the future shape of the National Governing Bodies of Sport, 4,000th winner, the achievements sport both in terms of participation rates the Local Sports Partnerships as well as and international success. The contrary is of Clare & Dublin winning All- a number of our elite athletes is crucial also true. Fail to invest now and we will live Irelands, Rob Heffernan securing because it facilitates the administration to regret it in the future. gold at the World Athletics and development of sport nationwide Championships, the list is It is because of this and because of our through for example: endless with each and everyone innate belief that sport delivers on so many • Ensuring coaches are properly qualified; undoubtedly having their levels for Ireland that the Federation has own personal favourite. These been passionate in trying to protect the • Supporting grassroots clubs and achievements rightly made the future for Irish sport. volunteers; headlines but for the two million Like all sectors of the economy the last five • Putting in place programmes to attract Irish people who participate in years have been challenging for Irish Sport non-participants into or back to sport sport, no doubt they also had their with real pressure on all sources of funding as well as systems to spot talent and own personal highlights. Whether whether it is membership subscriptions, maximise its potential; it was winning a competition or sponsorship, broadcasting revenue, ticket championship across multiple • Running competitive and recreational sales and of course, the Government sports, joining a training group, fixtures as well as domestic and funding which is the very life blood completing a 10k or a triathlon, sometimes, international events; of Irish sport on so many levels. hill walking or climbing, enjoying • Attracting additional funding and our seas, rivers and lakes, sport It was against this background that in 2009, investment; the Federation of Irish Sport published its formed an integral part of their • Developing and supporting existing and first annual Review of Irish Sport under life in 2013. upcoming international athletes; and the title “Why Irish Sport Matters”. In it we asked the Government to: • Representing Ireland in the international sporting community. 2 FEDEratiON OF IRISH SPORT pagE 10 SPO HE “We strongly believe that sport can have a major ALT R T - T T - role to play in rebuilding confidence in our country. H I ER In 2011 there were many examples of how our teams HE I RE and individuals delivered for us all. We believe sport, KEY LA TO A TO properly supported, can do even more.” N D Federation of Irish Sport Review 2011 pagE 12 The reality is in Ireland that for many, overarching long term plan for sport in TO G RE if not the majority of sports, it is the Ireland - a Masterplan for Sport. KEE AT Government monies that are the key ER In our Annual Review of Sport in 2012 we C P element in allowing this to happen.