Games on for GAA stars?

Irish sport boom could lead to Olympics nod

- 

OVER the next few years Ireland is set to host some of the biggest sports on earth.

Euro 2028, the Ryder Cup in 2027, the Cricket 2020 series, The Open and a competitive NFL game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers are among the events set to be staged here.

And now a high-level conference has heard how such “sport diplomacy” is becoming a trump card for Irish influence around the globe.

The Global Ireland Summit held this week in Dublin Castle even heard how the GAA could take its place at the greatest show on earth - the Olympic Games.

Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue told the conference Ireland is pursuing a diplomacy strategy aimed at opening cultural and economic doors through the world’s universal language of sport.

“We all know and agree the potential sport has to bring people together and have an impact on diplomacy, Minister McConalogue told delegates.

“Next year we will hold the EU presidency and will focus on the value and opportunities of indigenous sport as a key theme.”

He pointed to the growth of GAA around the world even among non-diaspora players.

And GAA President Jarlath Burns held out the possibility of players one day standing on an Olympic podium.

He told the gathering how a team of non-Irish Korean Gaelic players recently triumphed at an international ladies’ football tournament.