“ East Belfast Sport is given a platform”

Sport in East Belfast will be given a platform for future success with a special awareness evening, marking the launch of the East Belfast Sports Forum (EBSF).
The joint Awareness and Funding Evening will be held on Tuesday 30th May 2006 from 7pm to 8.30pm in the Park Avenue Hotel. This will provide local clubs and organisations with the opportunity to raise their profiles and attract new talent.
Led by chairman Billy Murray, a former four-time world kickboxing champion, the East Belfast Sports Forum (EBSF) will be launched at the Park Avenue Hotel in the city, where a host of top coaches and athletes will get a chance to raise profiles and attract new talent.
"This is an important occasion for sport in east-Belfast and a chance to make a real effort to bring more success to our young people," said Murray.
"The EBSF is a combined effort and allows all our top coaches to put their ideas forward to a body which can then represent them as a stronger, more influential voice.
In conjunction with the Awareness Evening will be a stand to highlight funding opportunities available to local groups, local Community Sports Development Officers will also be on hand to provide assistance in completing these forms.
Mr Murray added: "It is hoped the EBSF will have greater strength in bringing in much-needed funding to areas of sport that are less fortunate than others but equally as important.
"For many years I have struggled against the wind to put kickboxing on the map and I believe my lessons learned will be of use to others. The more we combine our efforts, the more likely east-Belfast people will benefit."
Football is a stable diet for many living in east-Belfast but Murray admits he was surprised by the level of participation in so-called minority sports.
"We have always produced great footballers like Warren Feeney and Dave McCreary and it's natural to think that football is the number one sport in east-Belfast, but it's not the only sport," added Murray.
"During the initial meetings before the launch of the forum, I was amazed at the number of sports that take place in my part of the city. There is no shortage of young people needing better representation."
If you have any further questions or queries you can contact Orlagh (Community Sports Development Officer) on 028 9046 7924 or orlagh@eastbelfast.com and Billy (Chairperson EBSF) on 028 9065 1074 or billymurray@group.tm