£100K Investment Boost Announced for NI Sport

Posted on Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

A £100,000 sponsorship package to help Northern Ireland sport to survive the ripples of the credit crunch has been announced by the UK and Ireland’s biggest retail bookmaker, it was revealed today.

Ladbrokes has committed to deliver a total of £116,000 in sponsorship to sport in Northern Ireland, including agreements with the Irish Football Association, Ulster Rugby, Derry GAA and the Belfast Giants.

Announcing the sponsorships at Belfast’s House of Sport, Joe Lewins, Managing Director Ladbrokes Northern Ireland said, “I am delighted to announce Ladbrokes’ partnerships with four of Northern Ireland’s most popular sports – soccer, rugby, GAA and ice hockey. Ladbrokes is committed to making an important contribution to the local economy through our role in the tourism and leisure sector, as well as playing a key role as part of the community to help make a difference where we can.

“The spectrum of sports in Northern Ireland is one of a kind and we are committed to developing opportunities to support this unique mix at both a regional and grass roots level. We look forward to growing and maintaining relationships with the Irish Football Association, Ulster Rugby, Derry GAA and the Belfast Giants and we will continue to seek out further local opportunities during 2009,” continued Mr. Lewins.

Ladbrokes is now the official sponsor of Derry GAA and as the official sponsor of the IFA Championship, the soccer competition will now be known as the ‘Ladbrokes.com Championship’. The bookmaker is also an official sponsor of the Belfast Giants and an official partner to Ulster Rugby.

Attending the sponsorship announcements, Professor Eamonn McCartan, Chief Executive of Sport NI welcomed the news.

He said, “The receipt of these sponsorship funds will provide a much needed financial boost to Northern Ireland sport within the current environment. The credit crunch has affected every sector of business and sport is no exception. A tremendously generous financial contribution of this size, and at this time, is hugely significant as the availability of funding is likely to become more restricted. We are extremely grateful to private sector organisations, such as Ladbrokes, for their continued support to local sports.”

Ladbrokes now operates 76 shops and employs over 500 staff in Northern Ireland.