Sports Minister welcomes African-American boxers to Belfast

Minister for Sport, Carál Ní Chuilín, today welcomed a group of African-American amateur boxers from the Washington DC area to Belfast.
~ Thursday, 19 January 2012

The boxers are here as part of an exchange programme called the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project. Since 2007, the Project has organised annual boxing tournaments involving young people from clubs in Ardoyne, Turf Lodge, Shankill Road and Rathcoole. To date these tournaments have taken place in Washington but this year the tournament will be held in the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Saturday 21 January 2012.

Speaking at the reception in honour of the visiting boxers the Minister said: “I have always had a keen interest in activities that help to provide opportunities for young people to improve their health and well being as well as their personal and social development.

“This is particularly true for young people from areas of high social need. Boxing is an excellent example of such an activity which, in addition to the health benefits it brings, also helps to develop self respect as well as respect for others.

“The Belfast Beltway Boxing Project provides an opportunity for young people, from both sides of the Atlantic, to expand their horizons, learn about another culture, understand that people who are very different from themselves can be facing very similar problems and learn from those experiences.”

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries please contact DCAL Communications Office 028 9051 5048. Out of office hours please contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.