ISC Sports Development Conference Presentations

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD BELOW (Any presentations that are not listed are too large to download or email so please email eclarke@irishsportscouncil.ie your postal details to receive a hard copy in the post.

Irish Sports Council Focuses on Inclusion in Sport

The Irish Sports Council is hosting a conference for the country’s Sports Development Officers on Friday (30th March 2007) in Killarney, which will explore the theme of Equity and Inclusion in Sport. Minister John O’Donoghue T.D. will formally open the conference this evening addressing the delegates on the topic at hand, giving weight to today’s publication of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) commissioned ESRI research on Sport and Social Disadvantage.

Speaking ahead of the conference Irish Sports Council Chief Executive John Treacy said:
“Following on from the success of the previous conferences we held in 2002 and 2004 we are delighted to provide an opportunity for all Sports Development Officers to get together again. This conference will provide the perfect environment for them to exchange ideas, experiences, and contribute to the learning around the issues that they are now encountering on a daily basis as they endeavour to provide sporting opportunities for their communities.”

The invited audience will hear from a diverse range of speakers from both Ireland and the United Kingdom to present on their experiences in fostering inclusion through sport. Dr. Pete Lunn of the ESRI, the report’s author will present its findings to the assembled gathering on Friday, in a piece entitled; Picking the Team: Who plays sport in Ireland, and why?

Catherine Murphy; Assistant National Director in the Health Service Executive (HSE), in a piece entitled Participation: Health and Wellbeing, will detail the need for the HSE and ISC to continue to work in partnership to progress participation levels on the ground.

Novlette Rennie OBE, Chief Executive of an agency called Sporting Equals in the United Kingdom, which she herself established, will specify how sport can be used to engage with Ethnic Minority Communities.

Among the other topics covered at the day long event will be;
• The National Action Plan Against Racism Through Sport
• Planning for Diversity in Sport
• The Disability Sports Wales Model of Effective Club Development

A wide-ranging audience is set to attend from sports organisations such as Irish Basketball Association, Munster Rugby, Community Games, GAA, FAI, the network of Local Sports Partnerships, the various County Councils, and VECs, as well as the HSE.

Ends.
For Further Information:
Sinéad McElroy, Irish Sports Council, 087-6338512, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie