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ALMOST 1.5 MILLION people tuned into watch Kellie Harrington’s lightweight boxing final at the Olympic Games in Paris on RTÉ 2 television last week, according to new figures released by the broadcaster.
Over the three-week event and over 250 hours of coverage of Games, a total of 3.4 million people watched the coverage on RTÉ 2 television while the events were streamed 7.2 million times on the RTÉ player.
Team Ireland had its most successful Olympic Games this year, bagging seven medals in boxing, swimming, rowing and gymnastics.
Harrington’s gold-medal win in the lightweight boxing final last week was the most-watched event across both RTÉ television and the RTÉ Player over the course of the games.
Rashidat Adeleke’s 400m final, Daniel Wiffin’s bronze-medal finish in the 1500m swimming competition, Rhys McClenegan’s gold-medal win in the pommel horse final and the 400m women’s relay in athletics, were the most-streamed events, respectively.
Over 926,000 people tuned in to watch Adeleke’s final and 910,000 people caught the 400m women’s relay final on RTÉ 2 television.
RTÉ’s Group Head of Sport, Declan McBennett and the broadcaster’s boss Kevin Bakhurst have welcomed the glowing report card and have expressed pride in the team’s ability to deliver the coverage.
Other stand-out events included Mona McSharry’s bronze-medal swim, which peaked at 621,000 viewers, and Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan’s back-to-back Olympic-winning performance in the lightweight rowing was seen by an audience of 429,000.
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I remember when I was a teenager and I was hooked slowly and surely by the poker machines in arcades. Got to a stage that I knew I had a issue so had to leave just to make a fresh start. My parents did not know as I was able to hide my problem. Went to the UK and made a point of never going into the gambling shops so just stayed away. 30 odd years later I am back home with a great family .. no issues…degree and good job…..I was able to do this okay because it was easier those days to get away from it. These days kids are online non stop and getting away from it is harder.. we need to stop the advertising during games that offer free bets etc. We need to look after the young…it’s a different and can be a hard world out there.
@Dan: it is such an insidious addiction, wrecks lives in such a silent manner. If you are lying in bed next to a drunkard, you know it , and even the most hardened drinker can only spend so much money. If you are living with somebody who is dependent on the needle , there are signs that you can try to tackle. With the proliferation of online gambling availability , the person lying beside you can be drowning in debt, you can be losing your home , and not even know it . It’s a curse for all involved
Walking into Dr Quirkeys in Dublin is extremely depressing, went in to use the arcades with my mates and there’s just swathes of people sitting using the slot machines for hours on end.. why don’t they understand that the machines are literally programmed and designed to take more than they give, and are impossible to earn from unless you’re swapping around frequently and using other peoples machines.
@Sean Murphy: unfortunately I think a lot of them know that. From knowing a person with gambling addiction it is a form of escape from real life – where they forget about their issues and responsibilities. It’s that feeling that becomes addictive for a lot. These people even if they win they will put it straight back.
@Sean Murphy: It’s not about winning, it’s about the thrill possibly winning.
@Sean Murphy: buy bitcoin
@Chiqeyo: explains a lot, genuinely didn’t think of it from that angle, cheers for the explanation. Adds a new dimension to the gloom in gambling sites.
@Chiqeyo: explains a lot, genuinely didn’t think of it from that angle, cheers for the explanation. Adds a new dimension to the gloom in gambling sites.
@Philip King ⚡️:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
@Patrick Nolan: less of a risk than pumping cash into slot machines!
I bet there is more !
40,000 in Dublin, more like:
There’s probably more than 1 million if the lotto is anything to go by
I bet ya there’s not
@James O Lone: wanna bet?
My problem is i don’t win!
Waaaaaay higher than that..not even up for debate that’s not even close
What were the odds of that!
I was at an event recently and I was sitting behind a young lad no more than 16, who I could see was on a well known Irish gambling app on his mobile and he was placing a bet. Who’s account had he access to because you have to submit ID to open an account?
I remember thinking I hope that boy doesn’t ever descend into addiction issues as I know people who have problems from gambling in arcades on the fruit machines.
People in Ireland get introduced to gambling at a very young age. Look at all those machines targeting kids that you put money in and you might get a toy or a bunch of coins…. that is gambling and should be illegal to target kids.
Hard to believe with so few gambling outlets, there is only the Internet, racetrack (with alcohol & credit card facilities), mobile phone aps, Bookies (can be found beside pubs), casinos, wonder if I have left some out?
They should be taking advice from Ivan Yates.
I bet you there,s more.
I was at an event recently and seated in front of me was a boy of about 15 or 16. I could see he was logged into the paddy power app and was placing bets. He definitely wasn’t 18. Who’s account was he using coz I know you have to send in ID to set up an account.
Nonsense…bet ya a 100 euro there’s not
I bet you a 5er there isnt
Local one here in Cork is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Gamble any time of the day or night.
Cash, Visa or MasterCard.
No one cares as long as you have money.
have your say