EU Sports Conference

Ireland is holding the Presidency of the EU in the first six months of 2013. As part of the programme of events for the Presidency the Irish Government hosted a conference on sport on on Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Dublin Castle. The EU Work Plan for Sport identified the sustainable financing of sport at grassroots level as a priority theme for EU Level cooperation in sport.

The purpose of the Conference was to explore the current funding mechanism for sport and to look to the future to see how sport can be developed within an economic and financial model that is sustainable and practical. An additional aim of the conference was to inform the Irish sports sector of the role of the EU in developing sport in the future.

There was an excellent line up of international speakers who addressed an audience of 200 invited from the world of Irish sport and the key officials from the European Commission and EU members states.

Presentations

Economic and Financial Models for Sport

• Mr Derek McGrath, CEO, European Rugby Cup (8mb)
• Mr Nick Pink, Regional Development Manager, International Cricket Council
• Mr Georg Schlachtenberger, International Paralympic Committee (13mb)

Perspectives from Irish Practitioners

• Mr Keith Wood, W2 Consulting
• Ms Sarah Keane, Swim Ireland

Athlete Viewpoint

• Ms Olive Loughnane & Mr Eoin Rheinisch*

Challenging Issues (Sport & Television/Sports Rights)

• Mr Ryle Nugent, Group Head of Sport, Raidiَ Teilifيs ةireann (RTE)
• Mr Benoît Keane, Keane Legal

Sustainable Financing of Sport/EU Perspective

• Prof Stefan Szymanski, Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan*
• Ms Chiara Gariazzo, Director for Youth and Sport, European Commission*

* no presentations available