Fund raised to €7.6m a year

SPORTS TOURISM INTIATIVE: The spin-off for tourism in attracting major sporting events to Ireland has encouraged the Government to give extra funding to the International Sports Tourism Initiative, which is co-ordinated by Bord Fáilte, and extend the scheme by two years, bringing it up to 2007.

Instead of the €3.17 million per year the fund has received in its initial two years, that has been increased to €7.62 million per annum. Also, new structures designed to entice private enterprise to contribute towards securing major events for Ireland were also announced yesterday by the Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid.

"Irish sports people, despite our relatively small size, population and often limited resources, have continually succeeded in sharing the winning podiums with the world's best athletes - and it is my sincere belief that, through a strategy of public/private partnership (PPS) in securing major sports events, we can win the most exciting and prestigious events for Ireland," insisted McDaid.

On the surface at least, the PPS appears to be a marriage made in heaven: two winners, no losers, and all sweetness and light. Michael Smurfit, who added his support to the initiative, used the case of the K Club - where the 2006 Ryder Cup will be held - as an example of how the public and private model can be used in harmony to secure a major international event for this country.

In what Smurfit called the "Ireland Incorporated approach", he said it was important to create the culture where the "public and private sector can jointly promote our country", adding, "imagination is the oxygen of good business".

He said Ireland had shown imagination in securing the Ryder Cup against the challenge of Scotland, who felt it should have been theirs by "their birth right, their time".

Golf tournaments have been among the clearest examples of the public and private sectors working together, with sponsors like Smurfits and Muprhy's receiving Bord Fáilte support in staging the European and Irish Opens respectively.

The fund was also responsible in assisting the securing of the Seve Trophy for Druids Glen in April and the American Express World Championship at Mount Juliet in September, as well as the World Cross Country athletic championship in Leopardstown next month and the European Eventing championship in Punchestown next year.

The minister added he intended to speak to his Scottish equivalent soon to discuss the bid to stage the 2008 European football championship, while other events being targeted include the World Powerboat Championship (on the River Liffey) and the World Rally Championship.