Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Sep 1995

Vol. 455 No. 8

Written Answers. - Recognition of Bridge as a Sport.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

190 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if she has received a submission from the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland; and if she will agree to its request for official recognition of bridge as a sport in line with the position adopted by other EU countries and the International Olympic Committee. [12717/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I can confirm that an application was received from the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland for recognition as a national governing body of sport.

The application was considered extensively by Cospóir, the National Sports Council. Following this, the Council recommended that bridge should not be recognised because it did not satisfy Cospóir's guidelines for recognising national governing bodies of sport, or qualify under the term "sport" as defined in the European Sports Charter, both of which stipulate the need for an acceptable level of physical skill and effort before an activity can be recognised as sport or physical recreation.

My Department has recently received confirmation from the International Olympic Committee, (IOC) that the World Bridge Federation is a recognised organisation. The IOC has indicated however, that there has been no discussion to include bridge in the Olympic Programme, as it is not yet recognised as a sport.

In the circumstances I am not in a position to grant recognition to bridge as a sport.