Sports Minister welcomes Sebastian Coe to Northern Ireland

Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Nelson McCausland has welcomed Sebastian Coe to Northern Ireland on a one-day visit.

The visit is organised as part of the London 2012 Nations and Regions programme. As part of the visit Lord Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will update stakeholders on London 2012 developments and future plans with NI 2012 partners. He will also see at first hand the progress being made on securing benefits from the Games in Northern Ireland.

Coe’s first engagement will see him meeting with the Principal, teachers and children of Dundonald Primary School. The school is the 40th in Northern Ireland to participate in the ‘5 Star Disability Sports Challenge’, an innovative education project designed and delivered by Disability Sports NI and funded by DCAL. The project aims to increase young people’s awareness of disability sport and promote the values and ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The school is the first in Northern Ireland to join the new London 2012 community, the Get Set network, gaining recognition in its commitment to the London 2012 education programme and the Olympic and Paralympic Values.

The day long visit concludes in a celebration event with Libraries NI to mark the launch of a new 'Inspire Mark’ project ‘All Our Saturdays’. The ‘All Our Saturdays’ exhibition features a range of home-grown sporting talent as seen through the eyes of Ireland’s Saturday Night; Northern Ireland’s best-selling sports newspaper.

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland said: "Lord Coe has a packed day of visits and I am looking forward to discussing how we can ensure that Northern Ireland maximises the opportunities which London2012 presents. Encouraging young people in Northern Ireland to become interested and get involved in sport is a vital legacy from these games. Projects such as ‘5 Star’ Disability Sports Challenge which has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark are unique. Dundonald Primary School is also the first in Northern Ireland to join the London2012 Schools Network which encourages schools to be part of the Games."

Commenting on his visit to Northern Ireland Sebastian Coe said: "With 906 days to go until the start of the 2012 Games, it is a pleasure to visit Northern Ireland and to hear first hand the stories of people already inspired by, involved, benefitting from or delivering the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are delighted with the high levels of public support for the Games in Northern Ireland and want to urge more schools, businesses, sports clubs and cultural organisations to seize the opportunity and get involved."

Notes to editors:

1. All media enquiries to DCAL Press Office on 028 9051 5047 or email DCAL Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
2. Schools and colleges can register to use Get Set the London 2012 education programme by visiting http://www.london2012.com/getset . Those that want to go further and join the Get Set network, gain the right to use the London 2012 education logo and will also receive priority access to exclusive London 2012 rewards and opportunities.
3. The London 2012 Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities and skills. By awarding the Inspire Mark, London 2012 recognises the new opportunities that are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.