Irish sports venues could benefit

Sporting facilities around the country are set to benefit from the announcement that London will be staging the 2012 Olympic Games. In most cases that will mean upgrading and improving what already exists, and in most cases it also means significant investment if they are to become attractive and viable locations for foreign teams looking to set up training and holding camps before moving on to London.

Cyprus, for example, provided several training venues ahead of the Athens Olympics.

John Treacy, chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, said yesterday it was a little too early to start talking about what facilities might be targeted but he felt the opportunities for presenting training venues to other countries were extensive.

"The obvious spin-off from this will be countries looking to come here and set up training camps," said Treacy, "and we do have lots of outstanding facilities around the country that can be used, such as the universities.

"It's early days yet, but it's up to them to put some proposals together and we will assist them with that, along with the Olympic Council of Ireland, and the Department of Sport.

"We would prioritise facilities that would be required going forward, but I don't think it would mean diverting resources from elsewhere. But we'll certainly be looking to develop facilities wherever we can."

The Sports Council were already looking toward the 2012 Olympics no matter where they were staged, and laid down a series of guidelines for national governing bodies in the Athens Review. Treacy was hopeful the London announcement would now help focus the plans of each individual sport.

"I think it will have a very positive impact on Irish sport. I think it's great news, and I was certainly delighted to hear London was getting it. The fact that London is so close, I think there will be an extra motivation for Irish athletes to get there, and also for the supporters to travel.

"And the fact that we're talking about a climate and culture so similar to our own will also be a huge help. This really is as close as we can get to the Olympics. It definitely provides the Olympic sports with an extra impetus, and from an Irish perspective we have an even greater incentive to do well."

Most of the focus in the immediate future will turn to the proposed sports campus at Abbotstown, which is now due to come before the Cabinet in the autumn.

The timeframe of that facility is critical: it is expected to take five years to complete, and even if work does get underway sometime next year it will be something of a race to have it ready in time to attract foreign teams travelling to London.

Phase One of the campus will focus on the development of pitches and ancillary accommodation for the three major field sports - rugby, soccer and Gaelic games - but those facilities could be easily transferred to other sports.

In addition there will be an indoor sports centre and all-weather floodlit synthetic pitches.

Target2012: Venues that could benefit

National Coaching and Training Centre/University of Limerick: Includes running track, 50-metre pool, and accommodation.

University College, Dublin: Includes newly developed hockey stadium and other pitch facilities, and accommodation.

National Equestrian Centre, Kill: Successfully hosted the equestrian sports at the 2003 Special Olympics.

University College, Cork: Includes running track and other facilities at the Mardyke Arena, and accommodation.

Dublin City University: Includes newly developed sports science centre and site of new tennis facility, and accommodation.

National Rowing Centre, Inniscarra: Phase one completed in recent years with potential for further expansion.

National Aquatic Centre: Currently undergoing leakage problems but a proven world-class facility when fully operational.