Alliance hails Olympics football boost for Northern Ireland

Alliance Party Sports Spokesperson Cllr Michael Long has hailed news that up to three 2102 Olympic Games football matches will be held at our new national stadium. He stated, however, that the gauntlet has now been thrown down to Minister Edwin Poots to get the new stadium built well before the scheduled matches are to be held, irrespective of wherever the stadium is situated. His comments come following Edwin Poots announcement at the Assembly’s Culture Arts and Leisure Committee today, that 2012 Olympic Games Chief, Seb Coe, has given assurances that some football matches will be played at our new stadium.

The Castlereagh Alliance Councillor said: “It is great to hear that the 2012 games supremo Seb Coe has given the Minister assurance that a number of matches are to be played at our new national stadium. These matches will bring fans to Northern Ireland and help boost our local hospitality industry.

“However, this means that the gauntlet has now been thrown down to the Minister Edwin Poots to ensure that the new stadium, irrespective of its location, is built long before the Olympics, so that we can address any teething problems it may have.

“We all know the delays involved in the Wembley project, and we do not want to see such problems here in Northern Ireland. Local people deserve a world-class all-sports stadium, and they must have it as soon as is feasible.”

ENDS