David Healy to be London 2012 Games ambassador for NI
Thursday, 26 June 2008Sports Minister Gregory Campbell MP, MLA has announced that David Healy is to join a new group to advise Government on maximising opportunities presented by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Speaking at the first meeting of the 2012 Leadership Group in Belfast today the Minister said: “The purpose of the Leadership Group is to provide strategic direction, advice and guidance in taking forward Northern Ireland’s input to 2012 and to ensure that we create a lasting legacy for 2012 and beyond.
“I am particularly pleased that David has agreed to become a member of the Leadership Group. He is a household name in Northern Ireland and an excellent role model for our young people. His involvement will undoubtedly inspire and encourage everyone to play their part.
“I also welcome all the other members of the group, who along with David will bring to the table a diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge which will be used to test ideas, guide developments and help ensure that Northern Ireland’s message is a positive one.”
The Minister continued: “There is already great interest and enthusiasm in Northern Ireland for the Beijing Games which start in six weeks time. Our aim is to harness what is described as the ‘gold dust’ of the Olympics and use it to increase participation levels in sport and help people develop healthier lifestyles.
“Like other regions of the UK, Northern Ireland plays a full part in the London 2012 structure for the Games and is represented on the Organising Committee’s Nations and Regions Group. Being involved at national level will ensure that we are kept informed of key developments so that we can feed into the wider government policy objectives for creating a lasting and valuable legacy.”
The Northern Ireland strategy has seven key themes including sport, culture, tourism, education, skills, business and volunteering. The sport element focuses on talent identification; coaching; new facilities and pre-games training camps.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Leadership Group is chaired by the Sports Minister and members will include of the Chairs of Invest NI, SportNI, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Disability Sports NI, together with senior officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Learning, a Local Government representative and a Sports Ambassador. Membership may be expanded as the focus of the Group changes, subject to Ministerial approval.
Membership
Chairman – Gregory Campbell, Sports Minister
Members - Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary, Dept of Employment and Learning Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, Department of Education
Angela Hendra, Chair, Disability Sports N
Rosemary Kelly, Chair, Arts Council NI
Dominic Walsh, Acting Chair, SportNI
Philip Faithfull, Chief Executive, Strabane District Council
Stephen Kingon, Chair, Invest NI
Tom McGrath, Chair, NI Tourist Board
David Healy, Northern Ireland International Footballer
MT McGivern, Belfast City Council
Wendy Osborne, Volunteer Development Agency
Mick Cory, Nation and Regions Group Representative
2. Twenty-seven of Northern Ireland’s sports facilities, offering 22 sports were successful in being included in the UK’s Pre-Games Training Camps Guide for 2012 launched on 3 March 2008. Eight venues have also been included in the Pre-Games Training Camps Guide for the Paralympic Games launched on 23 May 2008.
3. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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