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TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has said the “diverse and inclusive” nature of the Irish Olympic team will “give great hope to young people in Ireland”.
Harris was speaking after meeting Irish athletes in the Olympic village in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony tomorrow.
He remarked that it was the first time a Taoiseach had the opportunity to meet Irish athletes in the Olympic Village.
Harris was asked about the importance of having a diverse team represent Ireland at the Paris Olympic Games and responded that “it matters”.
“But I also know that each athlete very much wants to concentrate on them being here as an athlete, proudly representing Ireland,” said Harris.
He added: “But I think we have a team that is really diverse, really inclusive, from a whole variety of different backgrounds, and I think that gives great hope to young people in Ireland.
“Whatever their background, you too can grow up and represent your country at the Olympic Games.”
It is an absolute honour to be with Team Ireland in Paris today to wish them the very, very best of luck and every success in the Olympics. Go Team Ireland!
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 25, 2024
We are all so proud of you and cheering you on every step of the way! A credit to our country. pic.twitter.com/PCcJJGbZ72
Harris also remarked that young people will be encouraged to take up sport by seeing the “breadth of areas in which Ireland can compete”.
“Rather than just being really good in one or two areas and maybe a young person thinks ‘that area is not for me’, there’s now such a range of sports in which Ireland is sending athletes to the Olympics.
“That’ll encourage the next generation to participate in sport too.
“There is a breadth of areas in which we’re really competing, not just participating, but really competing at the highest level, it’s really encouraging.”
Harris also remarked that investment in sport “has to go in one direction and that’s to continue to invest more”.
There was state funding for Team Ireland of €59 million during the Tokyo Olympic cycle, and this was increased to €89 million during the Paris Olympic cycle.
“There’s been a greater level of investment in this Olympic cycle than the previous one and that needs to continue,” said Harris.
“We also need to look, when this Olympics is over, at how we can really try to build on its legacy in Ireland.”
With some 133 athletes travelling to Paris, this will be Ireland’s largest ever team competing at an Olympic Games.
“It’s just been absolutely brilliant to see such a range of incredible athletes representing our country,” said Harris, “to see the excitement, the nerves, and also to see some of the benefits of having an Olympics closer to home.
“A lot of the athletes have family and their friends here and coming over in the next few days as well.”
Harris noted that a reception will be held for the families of Irish athletes and that this is being done to “acknowledge the role that families play”.
While the Games officially start tomorrow, some events have already started, such as soccer and Rugby 7s.
“We got off to a great start in the Rugby 7s, which hasn’t just pleased them and excited our country, it’s actually given all of our athletes a lift psychologically as well,” said Harris.
He added that he is looking forward to watching rugby on Saturday, and also hopes to see some boxing and gymnastics.
Tomorrow’s unprecedented opening ceremony will take place along with River Seine and it will mark the first time an opening ceremony has taken place outside of an Olympic stadium.
Dozens of boats will carry thousands of athletes and performers on a 6 kilometre floating parade by river through the heart of Paris.
Heavy rain in May and June disrupted preparations for the Seine-based opening ceremony.
Some 45,000 police will be dispatched to ensure the ceremony’s security.
The Seine is also due to host several open water swimming events during the Games, including marathon swimming at the Olympic Games and the swimming legs of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons.
Last week, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo went for a swim in the Seine River, fulfilling a promise she made months earlier to show the river is clean enough to host open-swimming competitions.
She had originally planned to swim last month, but had to delay because water tests showed that E.Coli bacteria – a key indicator of faecal matter – were sometimes up to 10 times higher than authorised limits.
Since 2015, organisers have invested heavily – €1.3 billion – to prepare the Seine for the Olympics and to ensure Parisians have a cleaner river in the years after the Games.
The Olympic events remain weather-dependent and heavy rain on the eve of the triathlon or open-water swimming could lead to problems.
In the worst-case scenario, the swimming for the triathlon would be cancelled, while the open-water swimming could be moved from the Seine to a water course east of Paris.
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I returned home 2 months a go after 2 years in Brazil having never been on the dole before. Now 8 weeks later I’m at my wits end, I have started two jobs since I got home only to end up loosing the as I stood up to my employers for the lack of breaks. I recently worked for a push bike courier and worked 9 hours straight,when asked about lunch I was told it was too busy. There are lazy people out there but employers seem to be able to do as they wish at times.
Unfortunately the idea of “you have a job, you should be grateful ” over the last few years has given alot of employers the attitude that employees should and will take any conditions and crap that’s thrun at them and because so many people are sinking into poverty and are barely keeping their heads above water even though they are working they feel they have no other option but to put up and shut up. It’s a vicious circle.
Have you at any point considered turning to crime or drug abuse as a result of these problems?
I was unemployed for a number of months before I emigrated and not once was this a consideration of mine.
I’m not really sure why we’re constantly being told that “lack of support” of various different types is the cause of drug use and crime. I had little support, aside from Social Welfare, while I was unemployed and managed to get my ass out of the country and a new job without starting on heroin and mugging old ladies.
Where is the support for the retired Irish mother with a husband who hasn’t worked since 2009 and is getting by on state pensions and missing the support (emotional and financial) of her adult children who have all had to emigrate, or are unemployed themselves? Nope, not a word about that – it’s *always* inner city Dublin.
Also, I’m not entirely sure how quantifiable answers to questions such as “how is the recession, and Government policy, affecting your life?” actually are and how from this they can conclude the “greatest impact of the crisis and austerity measures has been felt by people who are on the lowest incomes and most dependent on state supports and services,” Surely these are subjective?
Similarly, communities like Fatima Mansions are much easier to provide services to than, say, dispersed rural communities. The fact that the have “community workers” to speak up (be they paid or voluntary) is something. Who speaks on behalf of the many thousands of people outside inner city Dublin who aren’t mentioned in the article?
There is much food for thought in your well considered comment. Kudos.
Time for the Irish people to stand up for themselves.
Pete
Dont be silly the Irish are lap dogs. Never protest, never stand up, just take it time and time again
Sad but very true :(
It’s all the fluoride In the water,makes them dolicile.Its banned everywhere in Europe.
Bullshit
The politicians are not going to stand up for anyone. They are too busy slurping at the trough with their newly appointed consultants. Why don’t these community groups demand free electricity and water for low income families and individuals? Are they so mired in corruption that they are unable to propose some simple solutions? And before the shareholders of Ireland Inc. start gnashing their teeth, and asking who will pay for it. The answer is, the Utility corporations can easily afford to take a small dip in profits.
You shut your mouth, put on some clothes, get down them stairs and get out & get a bleedin job for yourself (Dessie Curly)
Can’t find the full report online, does anyone have a link?
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