I am delighted to be here this morning to open the 34th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee in Ireland.
Firstly, I would like to extend a “Céad Mile Fáilte” – one hundred thousand welcomes – to the delegates that have travelled from all over the world to be here for this event. It is a real honour for Ireland to be hosting an event of this scale and importance. I hope that you will return to your respective countries with a very positive impression of your time in this country.
This represents the first time in a decade that Dublin has played host to this meeting – the biggest Olympic meeting to be held in Europe this year. And I am delighted to welcome International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, and the President of the European Olympic Committee, Mario Pescante, to Dublin. It is also a pleasure to have executives from the 2014 Winter Olympic bid cities here, as well as successful Olympic cities including Turin, Vancouver and Beijing.
Of course, I am particularly delighted that the successful London Olympic bid team, headed by Lord Sebastian Coe, has travelled to Ireland for this event. As close neighbours – and I know our friends from Paris will understand – we in Ireland very much shared in London's joy following the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics. Ireland and the UK both share a great passion for sport. Indeed, many hundreds of Irish people travel to the United Kingdom each week to support various sports’ teams or to attend major sporting events. The fact that the Olympic Games are coming to London will have positive repercussions right across these islands. And, I would like to assure my UK colleagues of any support or assistance that we can provide here in Ireland in the lead up to and staging of the 2012 Games.
I know that a key element of this meeting here in Dublin will be the European Olympic Committee elections. I am delighted that Pat Hickey, the Olympic Council of Ireland President, will be re-elected to the position of Secretary General for another four year term. This is a tremendous honour for Pat, for the Olympic Council of Ireland and, of course, for this country. I know that both Pat and his team have been working day and night to ensure the success of this particular meeting. And, I would like to pay tribute to them and to all those who have supported them in so many ways over the course of the past few months.
The Olympic Council of Ireland has recently moved into fine new headquarters by the sea in north county Dublin. This is another manifestation of the Council's confidence and its central role in Irish sport. I am sure Pat Hickey will be anxious for me to say that a museum to honour the memory of Ireland's own Lord Killanin, former President of the IOC, is being developed there.
I am also very pleased to have this opportunity to convey my personal good wishes to another great Irish sportsman and Honorary Life Member of the IOC, Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan, who I know will be enjoying having this great Olympic gathering here in Dublin.
Reflection on Olympic Ideals
As an ardent sports’ enthusiast, I very much value the benefits brought by sport to all people. Sport is a binding force. It unites people across all ages, across all classes and across geographical divides.
True sportsmanship is not about winning but about taking part. It is not about the ability to conquer. Instead it is about the skill and perseverance needed to compete at the highest level.
And it is these principles that are at the core of the Olympic movement.
In a world where conflict affects so many parts, or where people are discriminated against due to race, religion or sex, there can be few more noble pursuits than those of the Olympic ideals. Indeed, in Europe, where the political and social landscape continues to change, the pursuit of these ideals is particularly important. In its many shapes and sizes, sport brings diverse, multi-cultural Europe together in peaceful competition. As stated in the Olympic Charter - “Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”
The work undertaken by the European Olympic Committee in spreading the Olympic ideals throughout Europe is both of huge value and critically important in building a just and equitable society. By working in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Associations of other continents, you are ensuring that the ideals infused in the Movement are evenly spread throughout the world. In particular, your focus on educating young people about sport in a spirit of fair play, friendship and respect for the environment, is central to your mission.
Irish Government Commitment to Sport
In tandem with spreading the Olympic ideals, it is my belief that in order to attract people to sport and to competing at the highest levels, top quality infrastructure and sports programmes need to be in place. That is why the Irish Government has invested so heavily in sport since we came to power in 1997. This hugely increased investment has resulted in a considerably enhanced range and quality of programmes, along with top class facilities, the length and breadth of the country.
I hope that some of you will get the opportunity, for example, to visit our world-class Gaelic Athletic Association stadium – Croke Park - on Dublin’s northside during your stay here. For Irish people at home and abroad, Croke Park is an icon. It stands not just for the phenomenal development of this city and country in recent years. It also symbolises the importance of our national games – hurling, camogie and men and ladies’ football – in Irish life. Indeed, I am sure that many of you will recall that Ireland played a major role in spreading the Olympic ideals when we hosted the Special Olympics in this country in 2003. Croke Park was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies for that occasion. The Special Olympics was an event that captured the imagination of the public, both here and abroad, and we continue to be extremely proud of its success.
In terms of other Olympic Sports, the new indoor national Tennis Training Centre at Dublin City University is targeted at developing our tennis stars of the future. The sports’ facilities at the University of Limerick, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Boxing Stadium, the National Hockey and Athletics Stadiums and the National Rowing Centre are examples of the top class facilities, which we are proud to have in Ireland.
Staging of London Olympic Games
As I mentioned at the start, the staging of the Olympics so close to Ireland in 2012 offers unprecedented opportunity for this country at many levels. By that time, Ireland will have a range of modern well-managed facilities of the highest quality in place. Lansdowne Road and Campus Stadium Ireland should be well developed at that stage. Furthermore, given that Ireland and the United Kingdom share a similar climate, this will give us the opportunity to host international teams, their support staff, families and friends, both in advance of and during the competitions.
From our own competitive perspective, the London Olympics will also offer Irish athletes an opportunity to perform at an Olympic Games in a familiar environment. They will not have to contend with issues such as travel, diet and acclimatisation. In addition, our Olympians will have a chance to make even more use of the facilities that are here while they are training for the games.
We are also very conscious that with the excitement generated by an international sporting event of the enormity of the Olympic Games on our doorsteps, many more people – and in particular young people – will hopefully be inspired to become involved in all types of sport. This will complement our efforts to encourage all our citizens to become physically active. Since 2001, we have spent some €40million directly aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports. Just like you involved with the European and International Olympic Movements, we recognise that involvement in sport is an invaluable developmental tool. The physical and social benefits to the individual also have huge spin-offs for the community and nation at large.
Conclusion
It is my belief that the European Olympic Committee, the International Olympic bodies and national Governments face a common challenge today.
That challenge is to build not only on the momentum created by the Olympic Games worldwide. It is also to ensure that we continue to drive forward the noble ideals that are the core of the Movement.
I am very pleased to say that the Government has an excellent working relationship with the Olympic Council of Ireland under its President, Pat Hickey. This close cooperation is working to the benefit of Irish sport. I know that John O'Donoghue, the Minister for Sport, is determined to ensure that all interests and organisations continue to operate in this spirit of goodwill and generosity for Irish sports’ men and women.
By working in partnership at national and international level we will not only ensure the development of athletes who will be role models for hundreds that come behind them. We will also encourage a lifelong commitment to sport that is driven by fair play, solidarity and respect. These core principles are central to our goal of securing a peaceful and equitable world for all.
I wish you all a most enjoyable and productive stay here in Ireland.
Thank you.
ENDS