Sir, - I am writing to you to highlight the plight of one of our national sporting events which is in danger of losing its place on the sporting calendar, due to a lack of funding. The Dublin City Marathon has been held on the streets of Dublin for almost two decades, but this year it is without a sponsor. This means that unless one can be found, we might find ourselves without a marathon on the now traditional date of the Bank Holiday Monday in October.
It is estimated that it would cost £35,000 to stage this event. Compare this to the £2 million the Government is investing in staging the opening stages of the Tour de France in July 1998. I welcomed this event to Ireland wholeheartedly and believe that it will generate a lot of income for Irish tourism. However, not one Irish cyclist will participate in it.
Thousands of Irish runners will run the streets of Dublin in the marathon. Some may go on to Olympic glory - remember John Treacy (second) and Gerry Kiernan (ninth) in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Marathon.
Marathon runners have used the Dublin City Marathon over the years to raise thousands of pounds for many charities. It also attracts its fair share of overseas runners who help to fill Dublin hotel rooms at a time of the year when they might otherwise not be occupied.
If we are to believe that the Government is genuinely interested in Irish sport and in getting more people to participate in sport, as indicated by the recent Strategy for Sport document, then surely it could support this national sporting event. I would call on the Minister for Sport, Mr Bernard Allen, to help to fund this event with Lottery funds, as it has contributed so much to many athletes over many years.
It may not have the glamour of the Tour de France, but it provides an opportunity for so many Irish people young and old, male and female, to achieve their own personal goal of completing the "classic distance of the marathon on the streets of their capital city. - Yours, etc.
Oswald Road,
Dublin 4.