Minister Ring Launches Irish Sports Council Safe Sport App

MINISTER of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring today launched the Irish Sports Council Safe Sport App at the Code of Ethics Information Day. The app is aimed at creating greater awareness and understanding about safeguarding best practice in children’s sport.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael“I believe it is extremely important that children and young people are given the opportunity at an early age to participate in sport in a safe and positive environment to develop and enhance their physical and social skills. Participation in sport will ultimately lead to a healthier society and an overall improved quality of life.”

John Treacy, CEO Irish Sports Council commented “The Safe Sport app is based on the Irish Sports Councils Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children’s Sports which has been adopted and implemented by National Governing Bodies of Sports, clubs and Local Sports Partnerships on an on-going basis.  It features key information regarding your role in sport to ensure children and young people’s experiences of sport are fun, enjoyable and conducted in the spirit of fair play”.

Users of the app will have access to exclusive video messages from Michael McKillop (Irish Paralympian), Mary Davis (President & Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia), Liam Sheedy (Sports Analyst) and Alan Brogan (Dublin Football GAA). The app includes a ‘Travel Tracker’ which allows parents, coaches, who are driving someone else’s child/children home, for example after a training session, to permit the child’s parent, or guardian to view and have oversight of their location for a specified period of time while they are travelling on a journey.

The Safe Sport app is presented in two formats and you can choose to read or listen to the information. The native app is available for free download and available on IOS and Android platforms.

In attendance at an Irish Sports Council Safe Sport App launch photocall are, from left, Úna May, Director of Participation and Ethics, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD, John Treacy, CEO Irish Sports Council, and Bernie Priestley, Code of Ethics manager, Irish Sports Council. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Co. Dublin.