The annual grants from the Irish Sports Council were announced in Dublin on Wednesday.  An overall reduction of five per cent from central government meant that cuts for individual sports and programmes were inevitable, particularly after the high performance grants for this Olympic year were left untouched.
The GAA, IRFU and FAI have seen reductions of 10% in the money allocated to participation programmes but the collective shortfall of €933,000 may be covered in part by some through other resources and is not likely to have an impact until next year at the earliest.
Special Olympics Ireland was the hardest hit outside of the big three with a reduction of €565,000 on what was received last year.  2011 was partly boosted by special grants towards participation in the Athens Special Olympics but the cut will place a greater importance than ever on the national collection day on April 27th.
Grants aimed at increasing women’s participation in sport have been hit with Basketball Ireland funding under this scheme reduced by €100,000 to €127,000.  Rowing, Boxing and Camogie have no funding under that programme this year though cycling and Olympic Handball have been added to the beneficiaries with regard to specific programmes.
Funding cuts are not exclusive to Ireland with Sport England reducing grants to Tennis and Judo because of disappointing participation figures in those sports over recent years.
We will look in greater detail at areas where cuts will have to be made in next week’s edition of Sport for Business Weekly as well as at some of the areas where this may create opportunity for greater commercial support of individual sports or programmes.
Contact rob@sportsforbusiness2.ab6z.com if you would like to participate in the Sport for Business members Round Table event on Children’s participation in sport on April 27th.
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