Fianna Fail Senator calls for Ireland to develop plan to host the Olympics in 2072
Senator Malcolm Byrne said that Ireland needs to invest in "some long-term planning and setting an ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in half a century's time should not be beyond us"
A Fianna Fail Senator has called for Ireland to develop a plan to aim to hold the Olympics Games in 2072.
Ireland is currently enjoying its most successful games, picking up a record seven medals, including four golds. The remarkable achievements of the country's athlete's sees the nation 19th in the overall medal table on the last day of competition.
And Senator Malcolm Byrne, who is also vice-chair of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, feels the country should build on this success by aiming to host the event in 48 years' time. The Wexford man admitted there would be "eye rolls" at the suggestion but feels it is possible for the country to host the games.
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He said: “Yes, there will probably be a few eye rolls at this suggestion. But I think we could start to develop a plan so that we have the world class infrastructure to host major international events and there is none bigger than the Olympics. Given the joy and pride that our Olympians have given to us all across the island in recent weeks, we should commit to ensuring that our country has the best facilities for them in all disciplines.
"We need to engage in some long term planning and setting an ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in half a century’s time should not be beyond us. Cynics will knock the move but let us be imaginative and explore what we would need to do as an island to achieve this goal.”
A new state of the art indoor cycling track and badminton centre is set to open at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown in 2027 and Senator Byrne said continued investment in sport was paying dividends at international level and also increasing participation at local level.
He added: "The Helsinki Olympics in 1952 was the last time a smaller country hosted the Summer Games. I know that there are enormous costs but the transformational opportunities are incredible. Can we envision a Dublin and an Ireland in half a century that could be the centre of the sporting world and that would leave an incredible legacy?"
Senator Byrne made the suggestion as Ireland's Olympic heroes are set to be honoured at a public homecoming event in Dublin city centre on Monday afternoon.
The event will take place on O’Connell Street in front of the GPO, beginning at 12.30pm. The event is fully free to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.
There will be entertainment provided on the afternoon by Block Rockin’ Beats DJ Dec Pierce to get the crowd going before the Irish team takes to the stage.
Dublin City Council is asking people to use public transport when travelling to and from the family-friendly, alcohol-free event and to enter O'Connell Street from the O'Connell Bridge end.
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