Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
236. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the latest announcements from Japan stating its concentration and committed efforts to ensure the occurrence of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5626/21]
View answerThe Minister Deputy Martin and I have had, and will continue to have, regular, ongoing engagement with the sports sector as a whole, including with the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
In addition to direct engagement with Sport Ireland, the statutory agency for the development of sport in Ireland, I am also aware that the organisation in question is in regular contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs to exchange information concerning the status of preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in both Japan and Ireland. This organisation also participates in regular meetings of the Sports Monitoring Group, which I chair, and which met most recently last Thursday, 28 January 2021. During that meeting, I received a comprehensive briefing from the OFI delegation on the current state of play in relation to preparations for the Games, which I am pleased to say indicate a positive disposition and expectation of the Japanese authorities towards the Games proceeding, albeit under different conditions to previous Games. I am satisfied that the coordination arrangements in place comprehensively address the important task of ensuring effective preparation of Team Ireland for the upcoming Games.
I am pleased that the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, the Japanese Government and the International Olympic Committee all remain steadfast in their commitment to the hosting of successful Games this summer. The past year has been very challenging for our high performance athletes and coaches and I would like to assure them that the Government and Sport Ireland will do everything we can to support them as they strive to achieve success in Tokyo.
