IABA has participated in a meeting of Northern Ireland’s All Party Group on Sport & Physical Recreation today.
The APG is tasked with ensuring that that sport and physical recreation has a high profile in the NI Assembly, to influence Assembly policy, to liaise with Sport NI, the governing bodies and other organisations in Northern Ireland so that each organisations – in addition, it is responsible for promoting sport and physical recreation which results in improved physical recreation, improved physical and mental health. It is tasked with recognising the value of sport and physical recreation as a tool, that can affect change across marginalised communities and developing cross sectorial working with business, governing bodies, community/voluntary funders, universities and government that promotes, celebrates and collaborates through sport.
The meeting, which took place at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Estate, included SportNI, Disability SportNI, SportED, the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sport Association, the Postcode Lottery and representatives of GAA/ Ulster GAA; Ulster Hockey; Ulster Rugby; NetballNI; NI Horse Board; RYANI
AthleticsNI; Ulster Tennis; NI Fencing; BasketBallNI; Golf Ireland; IFA; Cycling Ulster; NCFFI and
MCUI (UC).
Today’s meeting heard presentations on challenges for disability sport, academic research on the economic and social value of Gaelic Games and matters impacting the introduction of the People’s Postcode Lottery in NI.