Why Irish Sport Matters?
Sport changes lives. Over the last number of years sport has been the consistent good news story amongst the economic doom and gloom. The Federation believes that Ireland would be a better place if sport was enabled to deliver on its full potential. Set out below is an overview of sport in Ireland and a summary of the key dividends it delivers for Ireland:
1. General Background
- 1.9 million participants made up of 1.1 million adults & 800,000 children 18 & under
- 70 plus different National Sports Organisations/Governing Bodies (“NGBs”)
- Over 12,000 sports clubs approx.
2. Government Funding & Sport
- Commenced in a meaningful fashion in 1997
- Peaked in 2008 at €311 million. Funding for 2011 is €86 million
- Spending can be broken down between current & capital. 1997 – 2009 saw emphasis place on capital funding – approximately 82% of all monies invested
- Irish Sport would like to see priority given to current spending during these straightened times
3. Sport & the Economy
- Government gets a return of €149 for every €100 invested in sport
- Sport sector supports 38,500 jobs
- Sport contributes 1.4% of GDP
- Sport generates €1.9 billion of household spending
4. Sport & Health
- Physical inactivity responsible for 6% of deaths globally
- UK research indicates that 11% of their health spend each year is due to physical inactivity
- Australia estimate that for every 1% of the population that becomes active, 122 deaths from heart disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes and colon cancer could be eradicated
5. Sport & Tourism
- Sport regarded as one of the fastest growing niches of the $4.5 trillion global tourism industry
- In the UK a “sporty” tourist spends an average of £900 per trip compared to a regular tourists spend of £500
- 38% of all domestic tourism in Canada is directly related to sport
- Golf brings in 150,000 visitors per year generating an income of €110 million
- Ireland v England rugby match is worth €83 million to Dublin
6. Sport & Community
- Sport is the largest single source of volunteering in Ireland with over 280,000 people volunteering in sport each week
- 32% of Irish adults are members of a sports club
- 70% of sports participation say meeting people is a reason for playing
- Garda calls out dropped by approximately 49% in Finglas & Ballymum during the 6 weeks of the FAI’s midweek leagues
