‘Funding needed to fulfill Paralympic Games legacy’ – Bradley
SDLP member of the Assembly’s Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee Dominic Bradley has said proper funding is needed to fulfill the legacy of the Paralympic Games 2012.
The Newry and Armagh MLA was speaking during a debate into the legacy of the Paralympic Games in the Assembly.
He stated: “The memories retained by the athletes will be with them all the days of their lives. Like them, the SDLP wants the legacy of the games to be more than a memory.
“We want the spirit of the games to continue to inspire long after their conclusion, to inspire our athletes to reach greater heights in the future, to inspire our younger athletes to realise that the next games could be their games, to inspire us all to be more active for the sake of our health and well-being, and to inspire our Executive and local government to resource better facilities for all sports people, especially athletes who also have to deal with a physical or learning disability.
“The British Government’s Department of Culture Media and Sport has ‘Places People Play’ as its legacy project to the Olympics with an investment of £150m. That is a considerable investment in the legacy of the games which includes provision for people with disabilities and suitable facilities for them.
Bradley added, “‘Places People Play’ seems to me to be quite a comprehensive response to the Games and the first tranches of the funding were released in advances of the games and further releases are due this Autumn.
“My understanding is that this money came from the Lottery. One wonders why we are not getting our share of lottery money to support the legacy of the games here. Perhaps the Minister can tell us whether or not her Department will benefit from Lottery funding for legacy purposes.”
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