Jim O'Keeffe
Question:133 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of State support being made available for the Special Olympics; and his views on whether it is adequate. [5664/03]
Written Answers - Special Olympics Funding.
The Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Ireland in June 2003, when Ireland will play host to an estimated 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and delegates along with 28,000 relatives and friends. There will be delegations from over 160 countries around the world, participating in 22 different sports at various venues in the greater Dublin area and in Belfast. This will be the first time the games will be held outside the US and it will be the largest sporting event in the world in 2003.
The Government has agreed to make available a total of €13.9 million in cash towards the cost of staging the games. The organisers, through contributions from the corporate sector, private donors, fundraising activities, the EU and Northern Ireland, are raising the remainder of the money required. With inflation, etc., there may be some additional pressures on the budget for the games and the organisers are currently examining the nature, extent and financing of these in conjunction with sponsors, including the Government. On the basis of the organisers' original estimates for the costs of the games, I am certainly satisfied that the Government has pledged an adequate contribution.
Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 116.