The latest issue of Sport for Business Weekly is online now

* How sport is helping Irish business in global markets
* Irish Rugby’s First Lady Fiona Coghlan is our Accenture Leader in Sport
* GAA Club’s flying fists raise €25,000
 
Launch Latest Sport for Business Weekly

Emigration a major challenge for the GAA
The impact of the economic crisis on rural Ireland is the biggest challenge facing the GAA according to Páraic Duffy, Ard Stiúrthóir of the GAA, who has released his Annual Report for 2011.
“If rural Ireland suffers, the GAA suffers. The bond between community and the GAA club is very strong in rural Ireland, and we see this now in very stark terms as our rural communities undergo the full force of the recession,” said Duffy.
The report also covers the problems of clubs over extending themselves in the boom years.
“Given the economic and financial context of the past several years, some clubs are now struggling to repay bank loans, and their members are having to put in a huge effort in time and work just to keep the club afloat.”
On a positive note the report highlights that the top three sporting broadcasts of the year were all GAA matches.
1,085,000 viewers tuned in for the Dublin v Kerry All-Ireland Senior Football final, while the All-Ireland Hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary drew 847,000 viewers.  Dublin’s semi final victory over Donegal was third and there was a 12% rise in the average viewership per game.
The annual accounts for the Association published last week showed that there was also a 10% increase in attendance at Championship and Allianz League fixtures.
Click here to read the full text of the 2011 report (Please note the file is large at 10MB and may take time to download).
Microsoft enter sporting arena with Lotus F1
Microsoft has signed a three year sponsorship deal with the Lotus F1 Team.  The company’s Microsoft Dynamics branding will feature on the black liveried car this weekend in the season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The two companies announced a technical partnership in September 2011. This involves Microsoft Dynamics systems and personnel to be involved at every stage of design, manufacturing, logistics, and retail at the company’s English base.
Microsoft has not previously been involved as a major sporting sponsor but does support a number of community initiatives in Ireland and co founder Paul Allen owns the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and the NBA’s Portland trail blazers.
Irish Cricket back on track in qualifying tournament
The Irish Cricket squad won the second of their seven pool games in the qualifying tournament in Dubai for the Twenty20 World Cup this autumn.  They face an unbeaten Italy side this morning but are expected to progress despite an opening loss to Namibia.  The pool games continue through next week.
Irish rely on Mullins at Cheltenham
Sizing Europe joined Hurricane Fly in being dethroned as a Cheltenham Champion yesterday. Bettors hit back with some early favourites but Andrew Lynch’s mount was beaten at odds on in an action packed Queen Mother Champion Chase where the last fence was omitted amid apparent confusion for jockeys and commentators.  The highlight of today’s third Day is the Ladbroke World Hurdle where trainer Willie Mullins saddles four runners against the hot favourite Big Bucks.  Mullins trained Ireland’s second winner of the Festival when Champagne Fever won the last race at the track on Wednesday.
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