Northern Ireland is now punching above its weight in the international sporting world, it was claimed tonight.
The North's Sports Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, said the staging of the World Senior Amateur Boxing Championship in Belfast showed the North had well and truly arrived.
Mr McGimpsey was speaking at Belfast City Hall where he was attending the opening dinner of the championships, due to start tomorrow afternoon in the city's landmark Millennium site, the Odyssey Arena.
Sixty-eight countries are taking part in the £1.1 million week-long event, which is being held in Northern Ireland for the first time.
The Minister told the sportsmen that because of 30 years of civil disturbance, the North had been a "no-go" area for many international sporting occasions.
"But now we are building a new society together, things are changing fast and the staging of this tournament is a terrific coup for us," he said.
The Cubans and the United States have assembled strong teams for the championships and are expected to figure prominently in the medal rankings.
The Irish team of 12 boxers includes two boxers from Northern Ireland who are hoping to give local fans plenty to cheer about.
Mr McGimpsey described sport as a medium through with all classes, colours and creeds could communicate.
"Sport is an essential part of life in every society around the globe as it brings people from all backgrounds closer together," he said.
"That is why I welcome this tournament to Northern Ireland. It gives local fans the opportunity to see the world's top amateur boxers in action and it will encourage budding youngsters to strive harder to reach the top."
PA
