Elite performance programmes get small increase in 2012 funding
The Irish Sports Council has published details of its €10.5 million funding of elite athletes and elite performance programmes for 2012.  The figure is a small increase in that awarded for 2011 though the Council warned that it expected a cut in the region of five per cent for next year.
A commitment to maintain funding in this Olympic year has been met.  27 athletes will receive grant funding at the top level of €40,000.  They include established major championship performers Olive Loughane, Derval O’Rourke, Jason Smyth, Mark Rohan, Grainne Murphy, Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin and Annalise Murphy.
We wrote in Sport for Business Weekly before Christmas about the improvement in the medal haul of Irish athletes at Championship level in this four year cycle.  To date the tally is 102, compared to 70 at this stage in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics. 58 of the 59 medals won in 2011 were by Irish athletes based at home in domestic programmes.
Mr. Michael Ring TD, Minister for Tourism & Sport made the announcement in Dublin today (February 14); “2012 is a critically important year for Irish sport and it is vital that financial support is made available to athletes to ensure the best possible preparation for London 2012,” said Michael Ring TD, Minister for Sport launching the High Performance Programme in Dublin. “The level of success of Irish sports people has been incredible over the past few years and it is a source of pride that the Irish public has been supporting them all the way”.
In 2012 €6.68 million will be invested in Performance Plans across 20 sports.  This figure is slightly down on 2011.  The Council is expected to confirm support for key high performance events to be hosted in Ireland in 2012 including the Men’s Olympic Hockey Qualifier at Belfield in March, the ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships on Dublin Bay in July and the Men’s European Golf Championships.
Teamer nominated as Sports Website of the Year
Congratulations to our friends and supporters of Sport for Business at Teamer.net on their short listing as Sports Website of the year at the prestigious Sport Industry Awards.  They are one of four on the shortlist, the others being the Guardian, Manchester City football club and TalkSport.
Teamer was created in Dublin by a mix of internet and sports professionals to provide team management capabilities on mobile and online platforms. It currently boasts 1.2 million members across 70,000 teams in more than 200 sports around the world.
Ireland France to go ahead on March 4th
The postponed RBS Six Nations Championship game between France and Ireland will now take place on Sunday March 4th.  The IRFU had pressed for the previous day to provide more than a six day turnaround between games while the French authorities were under pressure from clubs to push back until the autumn.
Fans who travelled for last Saturday’s game have the option to re use their tickets or to claim a full refund.
In the next Sport for Business Weekly, published tomorrow, Thursday February 16th we will take a look at the logistics behind transferring a major sports event.
3 and FAI launch I Love Football campaign for Czech Republic Friendly
Team sponsor 3 chose Valentine’s Day to launch an ‘I love football’ promotion where 1,000 reduced price adult, child and family tickets have been made available for the Republic of Ireland soccer friendly against the Czech republic at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday February 29th.
Three are in a four year deal as sponsors of the FAI and the Irish International soccer teams at a value of €7.5 million.
Barcelona put on Master Class
The first knock out round of the UEFA Champions’ league got under way on Tuesday night with Barcelona putting on a master class to secure a 3-1 win away to Bayer Leverkusen.  The reigning champions had 72% of possession and strung together more than 900 passes, 797 of which were successful.  That is a pass at the rate of one every six seconds, not accounting for time in which the ball was not in play.  Incredible!  The use of statistics is a way in which technology and management brands such as Accenture in the RBS Six Nations Championship are becoming more involved in top level sport.
Latest issue of Sport for Business Weekly
The latest issue of Sport for Business Weekly looks at alcohol sponsorship of sport; Ulster Bank’s activation of rugby sponsorship around the RBS Six Nations and beyond; the renewed vigour in Irish greyhound racing and reviews the best of the Super Bowl marketing initiatives…
 
 
 
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