Crowds gathered in Belfast for an event celebrating Northern Ireland’s record-breaking Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
At the SSE Arena, Stormont’s Sports Minister Gordon Lyons announced an additional £100,000 of funding for grassroots sports clubs after an unprecedented summer of success at the Paris 2024 Games.
Northern Ireland scooped four gold medals, a silver and two bronzes at the Paris Olympics, the most ever in a Games and the first golds since 1988.
The gold medallists included gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and swimmer Daniel Wiffen competing for Team Ireland and swimmer Jack McMillan and rower Hannah Scott competing for Team GB and Northern Ireland.
At the event, the raucous crowd welcomed each of the athletes individually to the stage.
Gold medallists McClenaghan and McMillan received loud cheers as they were interviewed. Wiffin was not in attendance but sent a video message from holiday.
Rowing silver medallist Rebecca Shorten received one of the loudest cheers of the night when she announced she had got engaged this week.
McClenaghan told the PA news agency that that it was “great opportunity” for all the athletes to celebrate together.
He said: “Of course, there are some Northern Ireland athletes who represent Team GB, some represent Ireland, it is good to come together in a Northern Irish celebration.”
“There will be lots of aspiring young athletes in the crowd.
“Hopefully they will be inspired to follow in our footsteps.”
Rower Philip Doyle won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
He said: “It is great to have everyone together, it is great to have all the sports, Paralympics and Olympics, in one place.
“It’s great to get the crowd involved, it is great to have somewhere for people to come and have an evening of entertainment.
“The whole point of sport is to create a legacy behind you. The kids who see this tonight might have the motivation to go into sport.”
In recognition of their accomplishments, each medal-winning athlete will be asked to nominate projects which will receive an investment boost.
Mr Lyons said he had chosen the event because he wanted it to be a “proper celebration”.
He said: “Some had suggested doing something at Stormont, but I thought that would have been behind closed doors.
“I wanted this to be for the public.
“It has been an incredible response, all the tickets have sold out.”
Addressing the event, the minister said: “This was a truly outstanding summer for sport, and every athlete who took part in these games can be proud of what they achieved.
“Collectively, you have all contributed to an exceptional chapter in our sporting history and set a new benchmark for success.
“I’m pleased to welcome our athletes – along with their families, clubmates and supporters – to the SSE Arena this evening.
“I’m also delighted that I can join so many members of the public in applauding this inspirational group.
“While this event is about celebrating the success of the summer, it’s also about looking to the future.”
The minister added: “These Olympians and Paralympians are an inspiration for the stars of tomorrow and it’s essential that we invest in nurturing that talent, whilst encouraging as many people as possible to get more active.
“Therefore, our six medallists are each invited to nominate local grassroots sports clubs and projects here in Northern Ireland who need funding to help improve their facilities.
“I want people from Northern Ireland to be leading the world in sport. I want our athletes to be the best and I want the true legacy from these Games to be more people getting involved in sport at all levels.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Tonight is all about celebration, but also recognition of the incredible success of our athletes from right throughout Northern Ireland at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
“Northern Ireland is so incredibly proud of what they have managed to achieve.
“It will hopefully inspire many young people to be the Olympians of the future.”
The event at the SSE Arena was hosted by the BBC’s Stephen Watson and Olympian turned broadcaster and author, Aimee Fuller, and featured music from DJ Pete Snodden and singer Ryan McMullan.
Richard Archibald, interim chief executive at Sport NI, said: “After such incredible performances from our Olympians and Paralympians this summer, we must seize the opportunity to ensure a lasting legacy from these Games.
“Our athletes have no doubt inspired the next generation of sportspeople to set their sights on an Olympic or Paralympic medal.
“Our medallists know the long journey to sporting success and the hard work, dedication and commitment it takes to succeed at the highest level.
“Most will have started their sporting careers at a local club, where volunteers nurtured their talent and encouraged them to excel.
“That is why we are so excited to work with the athletes as they nominate local sports clubs and projects to receive a funding boost to improve their facilities.
“Gold medallist Hannah Scott spoke about being inspired by the Chambers brothers and Alan Campbell coming back to her club with their Olympic medals, and this funding will help many of the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic talent take a step closer to pursuing their own goals.”
