Councillors reject officials plans to “showcase” Belfast sport to Europe
Stock image of Belfast City Hall(Image: Belfast Live)
Questions have been raised at City Hall over a proposed £40,000 salary for a temporary communication officer for Belfast European City of Sport 2026.
At the March meeting of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, several elected representatives questioned aspects of an extra £160,000 budget being set aside by City Hall officials “to maximise the impact of the existing activity programme” of sports from the council.
Members at the committee were asked to consider the extra budget proposed by council officials, which included an idea for £40,000 to go to the company MarComms for an additional temporary officer to “support the extensive marketing and communications requirements involved in the year long programme.” This role would potentially not have been filled until the start of the summer.
READ MORE: Belfast residents raise concerns about surveys for Irish street sign applications
READ MORE: Belfast council can do nothing to stop landlords bulk buying houses for HMOs, councillors told
The officer proposal also involved £15,000 to build a stock of City of Sport “support materials,” for example, infographics, mesh banners, branded sport products, for council facilities and events and to gift to partner delivery bodies. £85,000 was proposed for additional programme support which would include £25,000 to deliver targeted events “where gaps are identified in the programme particularly in relation to gender, disability, and ethnic background, etc.”
The council officer report stated: “This is in line with our commitment to removing barriers to physical activity to ensure we get more people playing sport, keeping fit and having fun.”
£60,000 was proposed to offer up to £5K for 12 sporting organisations to deliver events in the city linked to the themes outlined in the City of Sport bid document. £20,000 was proposed for an end of year celebration and final report including evaluation.
In the end elected representatives at the committee approved the additional £160K budget, but not to be spent in the manner officials proposed. The committee unanimously voted to spend £140K of the additional money on the actual sporting programme as it stands, with £20K to be divided on the suggestions made by officials in relation to the European City of Sport designation. This decision will go the April full council meeting for ratification, where it is expected to pass.
Belfast was officially announced as a European City of Sport on November 27 last year by ACES Europe, the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation. The designation recognizes the city’s investment in sports facilities, support for elite athletes, and dedication to community, health, and inclusion.
Albufeira in Portugal and Saint-Denis in France were also named as Cities of Sport for 2026, and Naples in Italy was designated as the 2026 European Capital of Sport.
The successful Belfast bid was submitted by Belfast Council alongside its leisure management partners, GLL. The council states its programme works on five themes: investment made into sport in Belfast over the last ten years, support provided to elite athletes, the contribution of leisure centre staff, local clubs, coaches and volunteers, how sport is delivering better health outcomes for our residents, and a drive to make sure “everyone feels welcome and included.”
The council’s events programme can be seen here
At the S,P&R committee meeting at City Hall, Alliance Councillor Micky Murray said: “We are already three months in, and the things listed in this report are things we were already doing. So is there a need for 40K for a temporary comms officer who is not going to be in post for another two months, to cover back a year? For something we are already doing?”
Sinn Féin Councillor Tomás Ó Néill said: “I know we need expenditure on promotional materials, but I would like to see as much money going into actual sporting provision. We have groups listed here who aren’t utilising sport or getting access to sport, that is really where we should be putting in as much money as possible. All I want to see from this is that by the end of this year there are more people engaged in sport, and staying engaged.”
He said: “We need to spend more towards outcomes. I appreciate we want to celebrate this, and that is great, but twenty grand for an end of year celebration? fifteen grand for materials?”
A council officer said: “The comms part to this is to do a report in the evaluation – we need to be showing all the activities throughout the city. We need comms in reference to the banners, to be taking pictures at the sites. We need to get a blend of showcase and participation in sporting activity. GLL will be using facilities in the next while to promote additional people coming through the doors.”
He added: “The first quarter has been showcasing with our partners, and doing some of the branding around it. In our small grants for sport we have put in a provision that everything they do should be branded under the City of Sport. But it has been under a flatlined budget. If we get additional money, we can dramatically increase the activities and the participation.”
Regarding the comms role, another officer said: “Ideally we would have someone in place at this time, supported by the Senior Manager for Press and Campaigns, but it is just a massive added workload, which is not sustainable for that person.”
He added: “We will not be in the position to support this in the way that would be required without that resource.” He said: “One of the key things is telling the story and being clear about the benefits that the year of sport has brought. But without that added resource it would be very, very difficult to do that in an adequate way.”
Councillor Murray proposed the council did not go forward with paying £40K for an additional comms officer. His Alliance colleague, Councillor Michael Long, further proposed moving £20K into additional programme support and £140K for the actual programme. The proposals were accepted by the committee.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
