Athletes within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough can expect to receive a total of £2,000 of council funding towards allowing them to compete in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The proposal for council to provide the funding to five talented athletes was put before members of the Community and Wellbeing Committee on February 9.
This year the Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Explaining the need for council contribution, Sports Development Manager Gillian Dewart said: “A request has been received from Commonwealth Games to support their fundraising campaign for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games…
“Commonwealth Games are ineligible to apply to the ABC Sports Forum and also council to community grants. A contribution of £400 per athlete is recommended. This would be in line with the maximum grant available to an athlete through ABC Sports Forum Talented Athlete grants and also council’s previous allocation to Team NI.”
Chairing the meeting, Alderman Glenn Barr then brought in Alderman Mark Baxter to propose.
Alderman Baxter said: “I think it’s really worthwhile and it’s a small amount of money. I know it’s the maximum being given but I think it’s the very least we can do for them representing the Borough and indeed Northern Ireland.”
Seconding the Alderman’s proposal, Councillor Kyle Savage added: “It is a small amount of money and as it has been said there’s five from our council area that will be representing us and hopefully going on to greater success in the future. Certainly, it’s just a pity we couldn’t give more.”
Before progressing to approval, councillor Thomas O’Hanlon did enquire as to why the athletes are not eligible through the Sports Forum grants scheme.
Ms Dewart clarified: “For the Sports Forum, they are ineligible because the athletes themselves, they are not out the expenditure.
“Commonwealth Games pays fully for their attendance so to apply for the Sports Forum the athletes themselves would have to be out the expenditure and that’s not the case.”
With no additional questions from members approval was then given to proceed with funding.
