Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue has announced details of a Government-sponsored task force which will develop a strategy to maximise the benefit to Ireland of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The London 2012 Olympics Task Force has been created on foot of the Oireachtas Sport Committee's 2005 report, Ireland and the Olympics: From Athens to Londonwhich recommended the establishment of a steering group to co-ordinate Irish participation in the 2012 games.
Minister O'Donoghue said: "I think it is widely recognised that the selection of London as the whole city for the 2012 summer Olympic Games and indeed the Paralympic Games offers an unprecedented opportunity in Ireland, particularly in the areas of business, tourism, sport and culture."
He said the Government hoped to have the first phase of the sporting campus at Abbotstown completed by the games start, allowing Ireland to host teams in various disciplines suitable to the facilities available.
The Minister said several countries, including Brazil, Germany and the United States of America had already expressed an interest in coming to Ireland to help their atheletes aclimatise.
He added that Ireland was "well positioned" to benefit from the £19 billion that would be spent on London's infrastructure and services ahead of the games.
Fine Gael Sports Spokesperson, Jimmy Deenihan welcomed the establishment of the task force but warned that it would be "a challenge" for the taskforce to ensure that Irish sports facilities were "up-to-scratch" for elite athletes.
Mr Deenihan added that it was "vital" that the Government "firmly combats the rip-off which traditionally accompanies major international events, like the Ryder Cup and inevitably the London Olympics."
Calling for the implimentation of a Fine Gael proposal for a statutory authority to defend consumer interests, Mr Deenihan said "empty words of warning" from the Minister "would not tackle the problem"
Former GAA president Sean Kelly and Budget Travel chief Gillian Bowler are among the body's 14 members. Other members include Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey, Arts Council chairperson Olive Braiden, U2 accountant Ossie Kilkenny and music composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabhán.
A number of meetings will be held this year before sub groups will come up with a more detailed plan to implement the new strategy.
