Olympics: Belfast has been knocked out of the running for British government funding towards the building of an Olympic size swimming pool.
Two bids from Belfast City Council for the 50 metre pool were rejected, but the council said it planned to build one anyway.
Submissions from neighbouring Castlereagh and North Down councils have been shortlisted in a competition to decide where the pool should be built.
Minister for Sport Maria Eagle said the two councils would now be invited to submit a full business case and economic appraisal for further consideration by the government.
The minister said: "The overall objective is to encourage the development of high performance facilities by 2010, two years before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London commence.
"In the run up to the Games, the government is determined to raise the level of sport in the UK, to get the quality facilities in place and to get people into a range of sports from a very early stage."
Preparations for the 2012 Olympics offers Northern Ireland opportunity to create better sporting facilities which would leave a legacy, both socially and economically, for generations to come.
Belfast City Council expressed disappointment it was out of the running for funding and extended its congratulations to the shortlisted councils.
But councillor Bob Stoker, chairman of Belfast's Community and Recreation Committee, said the decision would not affect Belfast's proposals for a multi-sports stadium at Ormeau Park.
Mr Stoker said: "The Council remains of the opinion that Belfast, as the centre of highest population and capital city of Northern Ireland, should be a location for elite sporting facilities such as a 50 metre swimming pool.
"Belfast City Council remains determined to pursue elite sports facilities projects such as provision of a multi sports stadium for the city or other similar opportunities which may be identified."
Details of a second competition for capital grant funding for the provision of high performance sports facilities for other Olympic and Paralympic sports in Northern Ireland will be announced shortly by the Government.