Minister: Abbotstown will attract Olympic hopefuls

IRELAND’S ability to benefit fully from the London Olympics in 2012 will, to a large extent, be determined in December by Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s decision whether or not to approve €120m needed for the proposed sports campus at Abbotstown.

Sports Minister John O'Donoghue yesterday stated that it was his "hope and wish" that Mr Cowen would make the funding available either in the course of December's Budget or when he announces his Capital Programme.

"The Abbotstown project is not dead if I do not get the funding. All it will mean is that I will not be in a position to start next year. Naturally enough, that would be a grave disappointment. I'm trying to provide the facilities required. I am anxious that we proceed with it.

"It will start in phase one and the future government or governments would continue with a necklace, if you like, which ultimately would result in a meaningful sports campus of international standard."

Failure to approve the full €120m, however, would send out the wrong signal, both to the Irish Olympic movement at home and to those abroad who may be considering setting up base camp here in seven year's time.

Minister O'Donoghue spoke yesterday of the benefits Ireland can accrue from a Games that, unlike Sydney, Athens and Beijing, is right here on our doorstep.

"I have entered into discussions with my colleague, Brian Cowen, who has an abiding interest in sport, to see if we can provide the funding," he said yesterday. "The amount required over a five-year period, by my estimation, is in the order of €120m which should not break the bank.

"It is very important, not just in terms of helping the associations concerned, helping minority sports and helping elite athletes, but also in the context of the 2012 London Olympics.

"I believe that, if we have additional facilities at Abbotstown to add to the Aquatic Centre, the rowing centre at Inniscarra, hockey facilities at Belfield, the newly-refurbished boxing stadium, our Olympic-sized swimming pool in Limerick, and our National Coaching centre, we will be in a position to attract teams to come and train here before and even during the Olympics themselves.

"I am determined to maximise the benefits to Ireland, for elite sport, for quality facilities, for tourism benefits, and in a legacy of a renewed sporting culture for future generations."

Phase one of the Abbotstown plan drawn up by the Campus Stadium Ireland Development Company envisages training and accommodation facilities for the major field sports the GAA, FAI and IRFU.

There is also a plan for an indoor complex that would provide for 39 minority sports while the Irish Sports Council is finalising proposals for an Institute of Sport to assist elite Irish athletes on the run in to Beijing.