Grassroots Sports: Funding

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 18 June 2024.

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Photo of Gordon Lyons Gordon Lyons DUP 2:30, 18 June 2024

Yes, absolutely. I wish him all the best — not just him, but all those from Northern Ireland who are competing in the games. Rhys is a fantastic athlete and an incredible competitor. He has had huge success in Europe and at the Commonwealth Games and is an inspiration to many people across Northern Ireland. Of course, I absolutely want to wish him well.

I recently took the opportunity to visit the Sports Institute at the Jordanstown campus of Ulster University. It was great to meet those who are going to the Olympics or hoping to go to the Olympics. I hope that I speak on behalf of the House when I wish them all the very best in the coming months, not just at the Olympic Games, but at the Paralympic Games in August and September. It is worth reminding ourselves of something that was certainly made clear to me when I was at the Sports Institute. We think of the individual athletes, but there is an incredible team behind every one of those athletes, and they deserve our thanks and appreciation for the work that they do.

I get some difficult questions in the House. Am I willing to wish Rhys well? Yes, I absolutely am.