Sport & Sustainability __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Marathon The significant growth in entries year-on-year continued during January. Overall, entries are up 27% on this time last year, with a 29% increase in overseas entries. Notably, UK entries have bounced back from last year’s slump and are 42% up on 2019. Match Up EU Project Cork Meeting Cork City Council hosted the EU partners Irish meeting of the MATCH-UP EU project in the Council Chamber on Thursday 16th January.
Cork City Council and Cork Transport &Mobility Forum are stakeholders with the Southern Regional Assembly as Project Partner in the Match-Up Project. The Project focuses on sustainable travel and multimodality, the optimisation of transport hubs where people change between different transport modes.
A presentation was given to the group by Anita Lenihan, Community, Culture & Placemaking, on the setting up of the Transport &Mobility Forum and how the collaboration between the various members of the forum facilitates progress on sustainable travel in Cork. The Match-Up project partners have acknowledged the Transport & Mobility Forum as an example of best practise and are looking to set up similar fora in their individual cities across Europe. Sports To promote the game of football in Cork City and to prove that the game can be played by all, regardless of background, age or ability, Cork City Council and the Football Association of Ireland have teamed up to roll out a Football in the Community Development Programme. The goal of this programme (one of 24 in the country) is designed to increase participation in football, incorporate social inclusion through football (particularly in areas of disadvantage), develop emerging talent and to educate coaches and volunteers in relation to best practice.
These programmes are rolled out by Football Development Officers who work with schools, reception centres, youth clubs and community centres. Some examples of what has already happened are a Down Syndrome Talent Day in Blarney, an intercultural programme designed to combat racism by working closely with clubs, leagues and affiliates at all levels of the game to ensure that football environments deal proactively with discrimination and coaching sessions with St. Columba’s Girls School with Facility for Deaf Children in Douglas. Welcoming the programme, the Lord Mayor, Cllr. John Sheehan said, “We aim to make Cork a responsive and inclusive city but also fun, active and healthy one and this Football in the Community Programme meets all of these Criteria.”
On behalf of the FAI Mr. Michael Lobby, FAI Regional Team Leader sai d “We are delighted to enter into Partnership with Cork City Council to provide a Football in the Community Development Officer to work in the city. At a time when drug
use and associated criminality are serious issues in our country, it has never been more important to assist the marginalized in society. By supporting and developing our Football clubs, encouraging increased participation, inclusion, and creating real player pathways for our girls and boys, we will give the youth of the city a realistic alternative to anti-social behaviour, drug use and criminality. Ray has extensive experience in delivering Football inclusion programmes and will assist the many great volunteers we have in our cl ubs to achieve our goals.”
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