MLAs Gear Up For Inquiry As They Take Part In Sports Relief

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure are ‘gearing up’ for Sports Relief on 21 March. Chair of the Committee, Barry McElduff, along with Dominic Bradley and Kieran McCarthy, are taking part in the event as part of their efforts to promote the importance of participation in sport and physical activity.

Chair of the Committee, Barry McElduff said: “The Committee is concerned about the decline in adult participation in sport and physical activity and has recently begun an inquiry into the issue. Sports Relief gave us the perfect opportunity to look at our own fitness levels and we were inspired to get involved.”

The Sports Institute for Northern Ireland (SINI) is supporting the initiative by designing fitness programmes for each of the Committee Members in order to help them prepare for the event in just over four weeks time. SINI is assisting the members in the areas of nutrition, physiotherapy, performance analysis, and strength and conditioning.

Barry McElduff continued, “The Committee is very grateful to The Sports Institute for their support with this initiative and hopefully, with their help, we can achieve our personal goals for the Sports Relief event, as well as championing sport and physical activity.”

The Committee launched the inquiry because it is concerned at the low levels of participation in sport and physical activity among the adult population. The inquiry will produce a report identifying the barriers which prevent more people from getting involved in physical activity and consider solutions to those issues.

From Friday, 19 February, you can follow the Committee Members’ progress through their fitness programme through interviews, photographs and videos at http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/culture/2007mandate/sport.htm

ENDS