NI Conservatives’ spokesman for sport, Trevor Ringland, has congratulated Belfast boxers Michael Conlon and Paddy Barnes on securing medals at the Olympic games and wished both men well in their remaining bouts.
“Along with the rest of Northern Ireland, I’ll be roaring on Paddy and Michael in their semi-finals, and, fingers crossed, in the finals as well”, Trevor remarked. “Boxing is organised on an all-Ireland basis and we can be very proud of the competitors who have represented us so bravely as part of the Irish team. They are boxing for all of us”.
“Like Northern Ireland’s other Olympians, across both the British and the Irish teams, the boxers are inspirational and I’m sure their achievements will persuade many young people to take up sport. It’s welcome that the sports minister claims she will take the opportunity to inject more money into boxing clubs in Northern Ireland. Certainly the investment is badly needed in many of them.”.
“We must examine how we can invest in all sports on a sustainable basis, with the massive benefits to society that that investment can bring. And we need to work together to increase the emphasis on physical education and sport in schools, particularly primary schools, where these activities are sometimes overlooked”.
“In the mean time, let’s all get behind Michael Conlon and Paddy Barnes, whose efforts are making everyone in Northern Ireland so proud”.