The Federation of Irish Sport which serves as a representative body for National Governing Bodies has called again for amateur sport to be given charitable status in its annual review, highlighting that aport has “provided one of the few beacons of hope for the country” over the past 12 months.

The main purpose of the Review is to remind key influencers of the positive power of sport in Ireland and also to ensure that the development and funding of sport remains a Government priority.   As in previous years the Federation has used its Review not alone to warn against funding cuts but to also suggest ways in which changes in Government policy could be beneficial to the development of Irish sport and its funding.
Looking to the future the decision to involve sport in next year’s Global Economic Forum was highlighted as recognition of the contribution sport makes to the Irish economy and to our reputation abroad.
The danger of a ban on alcohol sponsorship was highlighted though the principal reason given was a suggestion there was ‘little or no new sponsorship monies in the marketplace.’
It is true that the market for commercial support is more challenging but a PwC report earlier this year highlighted annual global growth of 6.4% in sponsorship, making sport one area of mass marketing that is still being actively pursued.  The presence of so many business members within Sport for Business and an example of the growth in Paralympics Ireland sponsors from one to 16 in the last four years paints a more positive picture and one that needs to be talked up rather than down.
The issue of charitable status for amateur sport was highlighted as one that could make a huge difference to sport in the short term.  This will feature as one of the key themes of the first Sport for Business Members’ Round Table of 2013.
The importance of volunteerism in Irish sports was noted with 500,000 volunteers creating a  value to sport in the region of €350 million a year.
An interesting appeal was that the Government should establish a specialist agency, along similar lines to that in Denmark, to bid for sports events that can have a positive impact on sports tourism.