Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
788 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of international teams that have confirmed to date that they will train in Ireland in the run-up to the Olympic Games; if there are any plans to utilise the teams during their time here in terms of meeting local sporting organisations or similar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAthletes from thirteen countries will train at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) in the lead up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games including the US Synchronised Swim Team, the South Korean National Squad, the UK Paralympic Swimming Squad and individual swimmers from the Cayman Islands, Poland, Venezuela and Surinam. A pre-Olympic Water Polo Tournament taking place in the NAC in July will involve participation by Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Great Britain and current Olympic Champions Hungary. A number of other Olympic related events are also taking place in Ireland before the Games with international participants. A Men's Hockey Olympic Qualifying Tournament was hosted at the National Hockey Stadium in UCD last month. In July, the World Youth Sailing Championships will take place in Dun Laoghaire while Morton Athletics Stadium in Santry will host a Pre-Games International Athletics Event.
The US Synchronised Swimming Squad trained at the NAC earlier this month and will return to the centre for further pre-London training in July and August. The squad worked closely with the NAC to be as accessible as possible to the Irish public during their first training camp. They visited Temple Street Hospital and hosted a Workshop for the NAC Synchronised Swimming Girls Academy. The squad's visit culminated in a public performance at the NAC, attended by over 2,000 people, with all proceeds going towards Temple Street Hospital.
