€16m sports academy for Tralee unveiled

Plans for a €16m international sports academy, which will be developed in two phases, were unveiled yesterday by the Institute of Technology in Tralee, Co Kerry.

A total of 150 jobs will be created during the construction work, set to commence in 2013, and the centre will represent an example of universal design and best practice in terms of both physical amenities and operation services for adapted physical activity.

Details of the project were revealed by IT Tralee president Oliver Murphy at the European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity conference in Killarney.

He said the centre will further Ireland’s achievements in adapted physical activity and the provision of state-of-the-art facilities for people with disabilities.

“This new development will provide an exceptional teaching and learning facility for students and staff, and a valuable resource to the sporting and voluntary sector, both regionally and nationally,” Mr Murphy said.

IT Tralee, in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, has led a number of significant developments in adapted physical activity in Ireland and Europe over the past decade and the innovative programme has been recognised by the European Federation in Adapted Physical Activity and by Unesco.

More than 300 delegates from 31 countries are attending the conference, at which Special Olympics chief Mary Davis and Kathleen Lynch, the junior health minister, are the keynote speakers.