Posts tagged ‘Sport’

: The state of sport

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Northern Ireland’s sportsmen and women are enjoying a run of successes one year before London 2012. agendaNi sums up the year so far and the province’s sporting plans. It’s clear that Northern Ireland is excelling at sport in 2011. At the highest level stand the golfing achievements of Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, following on from Graeme McDowell’s victory last year (see pages 106-107). Major personal achievements have also been chalked up by our athletes. Jason Smyth set a new Northern Ireland 100m record (10.22), a 0.1 second improvement on his previous best. Fifteen year...[full story]

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: Ministerial Q&A – Carál Ní Chuilín

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
agendaNi asks Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín about her priorities and commitments over the new Assembly’s term. In brief, what are your ambitions for sport? One of the five priorities of the Executive is to promote tolerance, inclusion, health and well-being. Sport is a key vehicle for achieving this. Greater physical activity reduces obesity and promotes well-being, which improves physical and mental health. This, in turn, has benefits across society, both tangible and intangible. Sport can and does make a very real difference in people’s lives: people of all ages, backgrounds...[full story]

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: Improving participation

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Northern Ireland needs a culture change to get more active and therefore healthier. Meadhbh Monahan reports. Chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, strokes and other stress-related conditions are directly linked to the sedentary nature of most Northern Ireland adults. That was the stark message given to the Assembly’s previous Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee by GPs from the British Medical Association during the committee’s inquiry into participation in sport and physical activity. “The seats that we are sitting on … lead to complacency as we sit in our offices gazing...[full story]

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: Rory McIlroy profile

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Rory McIlroy’s uplifting US Open victory could mark the start of a legendary career. Most superlatives fall short of describing Rory McIlroy’s success this summer. In brief, a 22-year old Holywood man became the youngest US Open champion since 1923 and the second in as many years from Northern Ireland. “Proud to be a champion,” he tweeted. He set four new scoring records: • 268 for the lowest 72-hole total (65- 66-68-69), achieved at 16 under par; • 199 for the lowest 54-hole total (65- 66-68); • 131 for the lowest 36-hole total (65- 66); and • the lowest score to par...[full story]

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: Darren Clarke profile

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Darren Clarke took home a well-deserved reward at Royal St George’s. A three-shot victory won the British Open for Darren Clarke this July, the high point of a 20-year career. The Claret Jug was his after a final score of 275 (68-68-69- 70). While McIlroy made the record books for his youth, Clarke made the mark as the oldest Open champion since Roberto Di Vicenzo in 1967 and the oldest major winner since Ben Crenshaw in 1995. He is the only second Northern Ireland player to win the championship, after Fred Daly in 1947. It was an emotive moment for the 42-year old, who lost his wife...[full story]

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: Simon Best interview

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Former Ulster and Ireland captain Simon Best hopes that Ireland can add to its Grand Slam success at this year’s Rugby World Cup. He talks to Peter Cheney about life after retirement. “There’s no reason why Ireland can’t push on through this period and maintain a spot in the top four in the world.” That’s Simon Best’s assessment of Irish chances on the verge of the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in New Zealand on 9 September. A health scare during the last World Cup campaign led to Best’s retirement and, on a new path in life, he went back to work on the family farm...[full story]

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: Graham Little Q&A

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Graham Little worked for the Impartial Reporter and UTV before going freelance in 2006. The Sky Sports presenter who runs his own production company (Century TV Northern Ireland) shares some high points from his career so far. Briefly outline how your media career started. I worked hard at university in Loughborough to grab as many experiences as I could and eventually settled on wanting a career in the media. I helped make this happen by presenting a radio show on the student station and being the sports editor of the union magazine. From there I blagged a pass for the media centre...[full story]

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: A culture of participation

Monday, April 5th, 2010
Participation in sport in the province is much lower than the Programme for Government target of 53 per cent but the Assembly’s Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee wants to change that. In Northern Ireland there are more than enough people who are sports fans, but that won’t do our health any good. In fact the anxiety associated with all sports fans could be detrimental. The Programme for Government charged DCAL with stopping the decline in adults playing sport or doing exercise; that document set a target of 53 per cent. The current level is around 30. Sport NI were the pioneers...[full story]

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