Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 16 September 2024.
Harry Harvey
DUP
2:30,
16 September 2024
T3. Mr Harvey asked the Minister for Communities to outline his plans to ensure that we adequately celebrate and recognise the phenomenal achievements by all our Northern Ireland athletes at the Olympics and the Paralympics. (AQT 513/22-27)
Gordon Lyons
DUP
I am grateful to the Member for the question, and I know that he has an interest in this, with a gold medal winner coming from his Constituency. I was delighted to be able to celebrate with Rhys, Jack and others that evening. I am pleased to be able to say that there will be a celebration event for all our athletes, not just those who were medal winners. It is absolutely right that we celebrate their achievements. That event will be in the SSE Arena, and, Mr Speaker, I may even invite all Members so that we can all celebrate together.
Harry Harvey
DUP
Thank you, Minister. Can you also provide us with an update on how you can ensure that there is a real legacy from the success of our athletes?
Gordon Lyons
DUP
Yes. Although it is right that we celebrate the amazing achievements of our Olympians, it is also appropriate that we set in place all that is necessary so that we can have a real and lasting legacy from those incredible games. We need to make sure that we are directing the proper resources towards those performance athletes and also the grassroots so that we can build up for the future. I know that we all want to celebrate the amazing achievements, but let us make sure that we also build a legacy for the future. I will play my role in that.
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