COMMITTEE SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO ATTRACT OLYMPIC TEAMS

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has pledged to work in close partnership with the DCAL and Sport NI to attract international teams to train here before they take part in the 2012 Olympics.

Following a briefing by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, his officials and Professor Eamon McCartan, Chief Executive of Sport NI , at yesterday’s Committee meeting at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, the Committee is encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the Department and Sport NI to promote Northern Ireland as a training base for international teams participating in the London Games.

Committee Chairperson, Barry McElduff MLA said: “As a Committee we are positive and hopeful that teams will choose to come here and train in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. In this sense there is still a lot to play for and we would welcome the opportunity to showcase our local culture and fantastic environment to other regions and countries.

“The Olympic Torch Relays will be touring a number of towns and cities here and will undoubtedly receive a great response from local people, and we look forward to those events.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

During the visit, the Committee will receive briefings from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on its consultation responses to the draft Museums Policy and European Union Engagement.

The new development at Mossley Mill includes a museum, theatre, angling fisheries and conference suite. The site will also to be incorporated into Three Mile Water Park which starts at Whiteabbey and ends at Carr’s Corner.

Committee Membership:

The Chairperson of the Committee is Mr. Barry McElduff MLA.
The Deputy Chairperson is Mr. Declan O’Loan MLA

The Committee has a further nine members:

Mr Thomas Burns MLA
The Lord Browne MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Humphrey MLA
Mr Billy Leonard MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA

The Clerk to the Committee is Lucia Wilson

Committee Office
Northern Ireland Assembly
Room 344 Parliament Buildings
Stormont Estate, Ballymiscaw
Belfast BT4 3XX
Telephone: 028 90 521620
Fax: 028 90 521355
E Mail: committee.cal@niassembly.gov.uk

For media enquiries please contact:

Caroline Moore
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 02890 521806
Mobile: 07900053926
Email: caroline.moore@niassembly.gov.uk