Press release
Public consultation on the Hosting of Major International Sports Events launched
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, has today launched a public consultation on the development of a new Major International Sports Events Policy.
The main objectives of this consultation are to seek views and understand people’s attitudes towards major international sports events, and the role of Government in supporting them. This public consultation will assist in the development of a policy to underpin a subsequent strategy.
The consultation is in the form of a short survey of 5 multiple choice questions which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete; it can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/majorsportsevents
The closing date is 26 May 2022. The type of questions you can expect include:
Speaking today, Minister Chambers said:
“Ireland and the government is ambitious about hosting Major International Sports Events in Ireland. These events have the potential to drive participation in sport, contribute to trade, tourism, community pride, community engagement, regional development and economic growth. These events can also drive national pride and affect both how we see ourselves as a nation and how we are viewed internationally.
“It is the government’s intention to bring a more strategic approach to the bidding for major events, to maximise the benefits and to work towards making Ireland a destination for Major International Sports Events. I look forward to reading the responses from a wide range of the Irish public and I particularly hope to hear from National Governing Bodies of Sport, other major event stakeholders and all those involved with sport in Ireland.”
As set out in the Programme for Government, one of the key tasks for the department is to develop a Major International Sports Events Policy in Ireland. A Major International Sports Events Strategy will also be required, setting out how to give effect to the Policy.
Major International Sports Events benefit the participants and have the potential to drive participation in sport, contribute to trade, tourism, business, community engagement and economic growth. Such events can also increase national pride and affect how we are viewed internationally. Major Events can also require government support and input to win bids and to host the events. This can come in the form of financial support, legislation, commercial protections, ICT, transport and security provisions.
Over recent years, Ireland has won bids to host Ryder Cup 2027, EURO 2020 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup and engaged in a bid for Rugby World Cup 2023. We have also expressed interest in bidding for EURO 2028 with the UK and are preparing to host a series of 5 major college football games in the Aviva Stadium known as the Aer Lingus College Football Classics.
The objectives of the consultation are as follows:
1. Increase awareness of the reasons for hosting Major International Sports Events
2. Seek views on all aspects of the policy at a high level
3. Define Major International Sports Events
4. Decide what is in scope and out of scope
5. Gain a greater appreciation for the particular costs and benefits associated with each event
6. Understand people’s attitudes towards benefit estimation