Olympics 'will have a limited impact'
ANYONE who believed that Northern Ireland would play a key role in the Olympics in 2012 was guilty of "wishful thinking", a DUP MLA said last night.
Speaking after it was confirmed that a 40m Olympic-sized swimming pool in Bangor would now not be open in time for the London showpiece in two years' time, DUP MLA Peter Weir said he believes the direct impact of the Olympics would be "somewhat limited" in the province.
However, the Stormont representative claimed the long-term legacy of the major sports event was much more important than any short-term gains.
With exactly two years to go this week until the opening ceremony, critics fear Northern Ireland has already "missed the boat" in terms of benefiting from the Olympics being held in the UK for the first time since 1948.
There were initial hopes that the ill-fated Maze stadium could play host to a number of football matches and the new swimming pool at Bangor would provide adequate training facilities for local participants.
As things stand, Northern Ireland does not have a suitable venue to provide for any of the allocated travelling sports in 2012.
Although the new multi-million sports complex at Jordanstown is one of 26 approved potential training locations for participating countries, no international team has committed yet to using it.
On Tuesday, North Down council confirmed the swimming pool at Bangor would not be completed until the end of the summer in 2012.
Commenting on the setback, Mr Weir said: "Whilst we would have hoped it would have been ready, I think there has been a degree of wrong focus.
"People are dwelling on what is happening a month or two before the Olympics rather than the fact this is essentially a legacy project that is going to be there for many years after the event."
The North Down representative believes that, despite people's best intentions, Northern Ireland was always facing an "uphill battle" in its Olympic bid.
"We have got to accept at times we are a small part of the UK and consequently the direct impact of the Olympics will be somewhat limited."
He added: "The idea that Northern Ireland is ultimately ever going to get a major chunk of the activities surrounding the Olympics is, I think, a degree of wishful thinking on some people's parts."
A spokesman for the department of culture, arts and leisure said: "There are already examples of the significant Olympic legacy which has been developed in Northern Ireland.
"The Bangor swimming pool, while it may not be ready for the Olympics, is an important part of this legacy."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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