Sport for Business will be live this morning from Trinity College in Dublin as the Federation of Irish Sport hosts a pre budget breakfast outlining its case for why sport should receive a fair hearing, and more money, in next Tuesday’s budget.
As was previously the case arguments are likely to focus on the value that sport delivers by way of a high return on investment. This is in exchequer returns from value added tax, tourism benefits and general spending on sport through the economy, as well as on the 40,000 jobs that it sustains.
Government spending on sport remains at one tenth of what is spent on healthcare for illness that can be directly attributable to physical inactivity.
Of course the main budget debate focuses on the highest spending areas of social welfare, health and education. It is hoped that the message of what sport can genuinely deliver to each of these will be given prominence again this morning.
Join us live on twitter @sportforbusines from 8am and here shortly afterwards for a review of what the Federation, representing National Governing Bodies of Sport is putting forward.