Debate contribution: Olympic Legacy Fund

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 16 September 2025.

MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

16 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Olympic Legacy Fund

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5111077

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I wish to make a statement to provide the Assembly with information about my Department's Olympic legacy fund. Elite athletes inspire us all. They show us that, through talent, hard work and determination, it is possible to reach the very highest levels of achievement. In Northern Ireland, our athletes once again proved that on the world stage at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their success inspired pride across every community in Northern Ireland, and I want us to harness that pride, determination and sense of possibility in order to help the next generation of athletes flourish. The Olympic legacy fund is about doing just that. It will create a lasting legacy for sport in Northern Ireland, building on the successes of our Olympians at Paris 2024 and strengthening the infrastructure and resources available to our clubs. Last October, I was immensely proud to host a celebration reception at the SSE Arena to honour all our athletes, coaches and support staff who represented Northern Ireland in Paris. We applauded not only our six medallists but every athlete who had the honour of competing. That evening confirmed for me the depth of pride and inspiration that our athletes make people feel and the responsibility that we have to ensure that their success leads to lasting benefits for sport in our communities. Our Olympic story stretches back through the decades, from the golden triumph of Lady Mary Peters in Munich in 1972 to the brilliance that we witnessed in Paris. It is a legacy that we must nurture and extend to future generations. With that in mind, I committed £100,000 to recognise our six Olympic medallists through the Olympic medallist fund, which was announced at the celebration event. Each medallist nominated a grassroots club or project to benefit from the fund, thus ensuring that their success directly inspired investment in communities across Northern Ireland. For example, swimmer Daniel Wiffen, who brought home both gold and bronze medals, directed £25,000 to St Patrick's Grammar School in Armagh, his former school, where it will help establish a new gym facility. That is precisely the kind of practical local benefit that I want to see come from our athletes' success. I wanted to go further, however, and ensure that the momentum is not a one-off but, rather, the beginning of something enduring. That is why I secured £1 million of capital investment in the June 2025 budget for the creation of the Olympic legacy fund, which I officially launched yesterday at the Pavilion in the Stormont estate. The fund will be delivered by Sport NI in partnership with Crowdfunder UK, which is the leading online rewards-based crowdfunding platform in the UK. It will support sports clubs and community groups in modernising facilities, purchasing essential equipment and strengthening the infrastructure that is needed to increase participation and performance. Applicants must be not-for-profit sports clubs, community groups or charities and must deliver activity that is affiliated to a sport that is recognised by Sport NI. They must be based in Northern Ireland and deliver benefits to people here. Awards will range from £1,000 to £50,000, and each successful project will receive 65% of its funding as a grant from the Department via Sport NI, with the applicant raising the remaining 35% through community crowdfunding. That crowdfunding element is an innovative aspect of the fund. It allows local communities to show their support for projects, builds wider engagement and ownership and leverages additional investment into grassroots sport. Crowdfunder UK's platform makes that process straightforward and accessible for communities across Northern Ireland. Applications are now open, and Sport NI will oversee the process, providing guidance and support to ensure that clubs of all sizes and capacities can benefit. I expect the first awards to be made later this financial year, with projects beginning to deliver benefits for communities very soon thereafter. The Olympic legacy fund is about far more than bricks, mortar and equipment. It is about harnessing the inspiration of our athletes and investing it directly back into our communities. It is about giving everybody opportunity, whether to pursue their goal of standing on an Olympic or Paralympic podium, competing at a local club or simply enjoying the lifelong benefits of sport. The achievements of our medal winners, along with all the Olympians and Paralympians who competed in Paris, will be remembered for many years. However, I want their true legacy to be measured in the opportunities that we now create, in the clubs that grow stronger, in the facilities that are modernised and in the communities that come together through sport. The fund represents a significant investment in that future, and I look forward to seeing it deliver for communities across Northern Ireland. I commend the statement to the House.

First, it is important to note that all eligible clubs and groups across Northern Ireland, regardless of geography or sport, will be able to apply. It is certainly my intention to make sure that we see a wide spread geographically and across different sports and all communities. I have been in this position a long time now, and people come to me and ask, "Is there any funding available for my club?", and I have to say that there is nothing available at this time or that there are no funding opportunities available through Sport NI. That is why I have introduced the fund and what I am trying to change. The fund will be monitored as we go. It will be a rolling programme, and I will certainly not be opposed to intervening to make sure that, if we are not seeing the interest that we would like from certain sports or categories or if there is a geographical imbalance, I look at resources that can be put in place so that people are aware of the funding opportunities that I am now making available.

First, I assure the Member that I will never hide my light under a bushel. I will always be forward in telling people what I am doing. I am here today, without any media statements having been released about it beforehand, because I wanted to come to the House first, because I am answerable to the House. The statement was not released beforehand, and I took the opportunity to come here first, because I wanted to hear from Members. I am more than happy to make sure that all Members are aware of what I am able to deliver on behalf of communities right across Northern Ireland. The criteria for the fund are very simple. Applicants need to be operating in Northern Ireland, and it needs to benefit people in Northern Ireland. Applicants need to be not-for-profit groups, whether that is a sports club or a charity, and they need to ensure that they are delivering a sporting element in sports that are recognised by Sport NI. It is very simple and straightforward, and I will be more than happy to ensure that, if necessary, officials are made available to brief the Committee further. However, it is a very simple and straightforward process.

Absolutely. I appreciate the Member raising that issue, because it is important that everyone is aware of the fund and that all clubs feel that they have the ability to apply on an equal basis. There will certainly be monitoring of the fund and the applicants to make sure that there is a fair spread. I have said before that many people contact me asking what funds are available but nothing is there. A lot of clubs make a huge difference to the lives of people in their local community. That will be monitored. We look at that at the minute. We are testing the process and allowing people to apply, but if changes need to be made, I will make sure that they are made.

I am grateful to the Member for that question. Crowdfunder is the platform that we are using. We will look into any issues that exist in relation to fees, but I hope that she can understand the need for us to ensure that a contribution is made. As I said in my previous answer, this fund is something new. We have not done this sort of thing before. I am willing to try these things out, to test them to see what works and does not work and to bring in additional requirements or additional flexibilities if required. All that can be kept under consideration and, if necessary, reviewed.

No, I hope that it will not be a barrier and that many people in the area will get behind it. It will depend on the overall funding that is required for the club. In setting the amount that needs to be brought in by crowdfunding, we tried to find that balance to make sure that clubs had a stake in it and a contribution to make. At the same time, we tried to make sure that it was not out of reach for some people. We believe that where that has landed is fair. Again, I decided to go ahead, test it and try it out, because I saw an issue and a problem in that a lot of clubs were not getting the support that they required. I am bringing the fund forward. It is new, and, as I said, I will keep it under review.

Absolutely. I hope that I have reiterated that. In my statement, I outlined the fact that I want to make sure that everybody knows about the fund and is aware of it. We will certainly promote it through departmental and Sport NI channels. I hope that all Members take the opportunity to encourage people to apply.

I am grateful to the Member for raising that issue. I have been to the Barbarians Wrestling Club. I did not take part on that night, because it was mostly seven- to 10-year-olds who were there. I fancied my chances, but I did not take part. That is exactly what we are trying to do. We are trying to help clubs that are in need. That is the type of equipment that that club needs, although I know that it has other challenges as well when it comes to some of its space. We are trying to make sure that such clubs have equipment. I do not want young people to be turned away from taking part in a sport in which they may do really well and go really far simply because of a lack of equipment. That is why we are bringing the fund in. It will absolutely be able to help clubs such as Barbarians and others.

I am happy to do that. I have heard about the need that exists in hockey, as, unfortunately, it does in a lot of other sports. Certainly, hockey clubs will be able to apply, because what the Member mentioned certainly meets the criteria. I look forward to being able to deliver for hockey, as well as many other sports, and, hopefully, getting to the position where we are able to add to the fund as time goes on, so that all that need can be met.

We will not have scoring criteria; it is a rolling application. Essentially, projects will come forward, and we will then allocate money. If the criteria and the crowdfunding requirements are met, those projects will go forward.

I congratulate the Member's constituent, and I look forward to being invited to that event. I was delighted to join the Member a few months ago, and it was an excellent and inspiring visit. Huge credit has to go to those who give up their time to ensure that that is organised. They are under a lot of pressure with facilities and all the other requirements that are on them. Huge congratulations to them and to all those who are involved in sport throughout Northern Ireland and give up their time. The Member is absolutely right to ask that question. I can confirm that the fund will be open to all groups that are affiliated with sport. I look forward to seeing those applications coming in and, hopefully, that being taken forward, because sport is for everybody.

We will use the crowdfunding platform. I know that that might be new to some people, which is why Sport NI will be on hand to offer guidance and advice to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in any way.

That is certainly my intention. I want to see it go forward, because this funding allocation alone will not meet all the need that exists or the future need. It is certainly my intention, as long as I am in post, to ensure that it can continue. We can tweak it, improve it and look at what might need to change. I see the demand, and I want to meet it. Let us see how far it can go. Certainly, my intention is to keep it going.

2,173 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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