Individual sports rated most popular

PARTICIPATION in sports is generally increasing, according to a new report, but “much more quickly” for individual sports such as swimming, jogging and exercise rather than team sports like Gaelic football, hurling, soccer, and rugby.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report, published today, criticises the fact that “elite” sporting activities receive twice as much public funding as “grassroots” or club activities.

The elite category includes horse and greyhound racing, as well as major venues and performance spaces for top national and international competitions and athletes.