Minister praises Dame Mary Peters contribution to local sport

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland has praised the role Dame Mary Peters has played in the development of sport in Northern Ireland.

The Minister was speaking this evening at the launch of the first annual report of the Mary Peter’s Trust at Belfast City Hall. The Trust is a charity, originally named Ulster Sports and Recreation Trust, founded in 1975 to commemorate Dame Mary Peter’s success at the 1972 Olympic Games.

He said: “ It was a worthy honour that in 2008 the Trustees of the Ulster Sports and Recreation Trust decided to rename the Trust in honour of one of Northern Ireland’s greatest sporting personalities, Dame Mary Peter’s.

“I would personally like to thank Dame Mary for the outstanding contribution she has made to the development of sport in Northern Ireland, and particularly for the dedication she has given to encouraging and supporting our young sports people to excel in their chosen sport.”

The Trust distributes monetary Awards to young people to help towards the cost of expenses in respect of preparation, training and competition within sport in Northern Ireland or further afield. Over 160 Awards totalling more than £60,000.00 has been distributed in this financial year.

Notes to editors:

1. Further information can be found at http://www.marypeterstrust.org
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