Basketball CEO Bernard O'Byrne meets Minister for Sport

Basketball Ireland CEO Bernard O’Byrne met with Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers this afternoon along with CEO’s of several other National Governing Bodies.

Basketball Ireland voiced its challenges, concerns and frustrations, which are similar to many other sports and asked the Minister to take these on board.

Minister Chambers said he would, and thanked all for inputs received both written and verbal.

The Minister also indicated to Basketball Ireland and other NGBs that an announcement on expansion of the definition of “elites” is imminent, as is Government resilience funding for sports bodies, which would be distributed by Sport Ireland.

“We’d like to thank Minister Chambers for his time and listening to the points that we put across," said Bernard O'Byrne.

"Needless to say a change in status for our elite level athletes is of utmost importance, with our Irish international squads eager to ramp up their preparations for the European Championships.

"We hope to have an update in the near future, so we can give our players and coaches some much-needed clarity,” added the Athboy resident who was recently elected chairman of the Athboy Celtic soccer club.