The third Global Irish Economic Forum takes place in Dublin this weekend and a number of those present gathered last night at the National Concert Hall to hear why sport had been included as a topic for discussion for the first time.
Ministers Leo Varadkar and Michael Ring laid out an impressive array of figures on what sport contributes to the national economy.
- 40,000 jobs or 2% of the national total are supported by sport.
- Together with Tourism it is the strongest single area of jobs growth. The GAA has expanded its games development team from 20 to 313 in the course of the last two decades.
- Sport is worth a total of €2.4 Billion to the national economy, and even that is likely understated.
- The Sports Capital projects initiated in 2013 will have led to the creation of a minimum 600 jobs, spread evenly across the country.
- €818 million is spent annually on local goods and services by the country’s 12,000 sports clubs.
- 19% of all Gathering events this year were directly related to sport.
- 254,000 Irish residents travelled domestically to sports events last year with an average overnight stay of two nights.
Sport deserves to take its place as a subject for serious debate among the great and the good gathered this weekend.
Much credit is due to the Federation of Irish Sport and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport who have pushed for its inclusion.
Much now will rest on the shoulders of those who will lead the discussion on Saturday morning.
They include Eugenie Buckley, Páraic Duffy, Hugo MacNeill, Martin Naughton, Kevin O’Brien and Michael Ring.
Those gathered have come out of a genuine affection for Ireland and a willingness to make a contribution to the overall state of the nation.
Elsewhere this morning Sport for Business has laid out a manifesto of action for sport which we hope will bring some clarity of thought and purpose to proceedings, as well as some immediate and actions that will deliver for Irish sport, for those who wish to help and for those who will benefit in the short, medium and long term for having sport as a genuine area of national action rather than just discussion.
Sports Sponsorship Showcase
Sports Analytics Round Table
Sports Tourism Seminar
Irish Sponsorship Awards
Sports Philanthropy Round Table
Youth Sports Conference
