Irish Sport Matters Campaign
Six Reasons Why Irish Sports Matters
1. Participation in Sport Improves Public Health
• 1.9 million deaths globally each year are attributable to physical inactivity
• Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis
• UK research has found that physical inactivity costs them up to 11% of the Health Budget
Think of the role sport could and should play in the health of our nation.
2. Sport Contributes to the Economy
• Estimated that sport contributes at least a 12 fold return on State investment
• Sport contributes approximately 1.7% of Ireland’s GDP
• 1,500 jobs created by the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships
Without the contribution made by sport we would have to borrow even more money.
3. Sport Builds Communities
• 15% of adults volunteered in sport in the last 12 months which is the equivalent of 400,000 adults
• 32% of the adult population are members of at least one sports club
• 59% of players socialise regularly with fellow participants as do 53% of volunteers
• Sport is at the heart of our sense of community
It will help sustain us in the difficult times ahead.
4. Sport Establishes Pride in Ireland at Home and Aboard
• 46% of the population have attended at least one event in the last year
• 808,000 people watched the 2009 All Ireland Football Final on RTE with 771,000 watching the Hurling Final
• Over 40 million overseas viewers watched Ireland in the Six Nations 2009
Sport is an investment in the worldwide Irish community. It helps enrich our Irishness.
5. Sport Drives Tourism
• 420,000 people visited the Race Village during the Galway Stopover over a two week period
• 62.8 million TV viewers globally watched Rally Ireland in 2007
• The 2009 Tour of Ireland cycle race was broadcast to a global audience of 20 million by 220 broadcasters in 180 countries
Think of the number of indirect jobs sustained by those both participating in sport and attending sporting events.
6. Sport Makes Us Feel Good
• Sport is a consistent bright spot in a difficult year
• Imagine 2009 without:
– GAA’s 125 years celebrations
– Grand Slam Success
– Bernard Dunne
– Leinster and the Heineken Cup
– Shane Lowry and the 3 Irish Open
– The Irish Lions
– Olive Loughnane, Derval O’Rourke and David Gillick at the World Athletics Championships
– Katie Taylor and another European Boxing Championship
– John Joe Nevin and World Bronze Medal
– Kilkenny’s 4th Hurling Championship in a row
Think of a world without Irish sporting success.
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