www.visitdublin.com
10 CAPITALOFSPORTS
DID YOU KNOW? Almost 1 in 5 people regularly attend live sports events
Viva Aviva! Work on the Aviva Stadium is drawing near completion. Very soon we will be able to see Ireland take on some of the world’s greatest teams in this soon-to-be world class stadium. Completion of the stadium is due in April 2010, when the Aviva Stadium will have a seated capacity of 50,000. And the good news for spectators is that all seating in the stadium will be covered which will make watching a game on a wet day a lot more comfortable!
Golf enthusiasts! Are you interested in playing three rounds of golf on some of the most challenging and breathtaking courses in the country at a much reduced price? With the Dublin Golf Pass you can choose from two great programmes all of which showcase the world-class golf that the Dublin region has to offer. • Log on to www.visitdublin.com/golfpass to find out more.
DID YOU KNOW? There are more than one million active participants in sport in Ireland
Dublin – Capital of Sport 2010
Let’s help make Dublin a truly iconic sporting city!
his year has been good to Irish sport. Who could forget the ecstasy as Ireland became Grand Slam Champions for the first time in 61 years? Munster added the Magner’s League to their list of titles, while Leinster became Heineken Cup champions after an enthralling championship. Our soccer players did us proud holding World Champions Italy to a draw to ensure our qualification for the play off stages of the 2010 World Cup. Added to this the great achievements of our golfers, our boxers DID YOU KNOW? and our athletes, not to Over 30 per cent mention our GAA of the population in Ireland are players, this year has members of a been full of sporting sports club successes. And, as if to cap off an already extraordinary year, Dublin
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DUBLIN TOURISM
has been chosen as the European Capital of Sport for 2010. The European Capital of Sport is chosen by the European Capitals of Sport Association (ACES) and is usually in recognition of the tremendous amount of work being carried out by a capital’s departments, agencies, organisations and dedicated individuals, all of whom are working together to enrich the sporting lives of their citizens. Being the European Capital of Sport gives Dublin a great opportunity to acknowledge its achievements at local, national and international levels and celebrate its successes. It is not just an acknowledgement of the medal and trophy winners but of all the background staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that Dublin continues to
excel on the sporting field. Hopefully, being Capital of Sport will not only capture the imagination of Dubliners, but it will also have an impact nationwide. This January, why not join in the celebrations at the official launch event which hopes to encourage everyone to participate in the European Capital of Sport. Later on in February, the formal hand-over of the title will take place between the Lord Mayor of Milan, who were the 2009 recipients, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Dublin City Council is also developing a dedicated website, www.dublinsport.ie that will go live next year and provide information on all the sporting facilities and activities available in Dublin. It hopes that all sporting organisations in the city will use this site to promote their activities and keep everyone up to date of their developments so that this website becomes the “go-to” place for all your information about sporting events and facilities in Dublin. ■
YOUR SPORTING CALENDAR 2010 Some key sporting dates to mark on your calendar for 2010 January Basketball Ireland National Cup Finals February Six Nations Championship March All Ireland Club Championship, Six Nations Championships April Great Ireland Run, Frisbee All Ireland Championships May Dockland’s Fun Run June Flora Women’s Mini Marathon August Phoenix Park Motor Racing September All Ireland Hurling Final, Liffey Swim, All Ireland Camoige Final, All Ireland Football Final October Adidas Dublin Marathon December Leopardstown Racing Festival
• Why not escape the hustle and bustle of city living and take time out to visit the Dublin mountains that are just waiting to be explored? www.southdublintourism.ie for more details.
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