It was announced today that 15 of the 27 projects assessed by Sport Northern Ireland under the Elite Facilities Capital Programme are to proceed to stage two of the competition.

Sports Minister Edwin Poots said: "I am pleased that the process is moving forward although there is still some way to go. The 15 applicants will have a three-month period to prepare outline business cases, which will be assessed by Sport Northern Ireland and the Department for Finance and Personnel. A further selection process will then take place and those successful will be invited to proceed to the construction stage."

In March 2006 it was announced that £53 million had provisionally been allocated for high priority sports infrastructure projects and that winning projects could attract up to 75% of the capital costs.

The Minister added: "At this stage no timetable for the run out of this part of the programme has been developed but the underlying objective of the entire Elite Facilities Programme is to have all the proposed facilities built and operational by the end of 2010. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has given Northern Ireland an opportunity to improve its sporting facilities and DCAL is working with Sport Northern Ireland to take forward the development of facilities which will create a legacy for future generations."

In June 2007 the Minister confirmed North Down Borough Council as the preferred bidder to build Northern Ireland's first 50-metre swimming pool. 



The 50-metre pool project is the first phase of the Elite Facilities programme operated by Sport Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that it will be completed by 2010 in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Commenting on new facilities, the Minister said: "In the run up to the Games, I am committed to raising the level of sport, to getting the right facilities in place and to ensuring that young people in Northern Ireland have the opportunity to get involved in sport from an early age."


(SB/SP)