Slane man appointed ambassador of sport for Dublin's European year

Slane man Thomas Ahern has been appointed an 'Ambassador of Dublin Sport 2010' as the capital city launched 'Dublin - European Capital of Sport 2010. The eleven ambassadors of Dublin sport were nominated by their clubs and sporting governing bodies, and Mr Ahern was nominated for his involvement in the St Saviour's Olympic Boxing Academy. Last week, Irish sporting representatives from national organisations and local clubs across Dublin, including boxer Bernard Dunne and Marco Tardelli, assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team, joined Lord Mayor Emer Costello to celebrate the start of Dublin - European Capital of Sport 2010 in Dublin Castle. Cllr Alan Christian Rizzi from Milan, Italy, holder of the 2009 City of Sport designation, presented the European Capital of Sport flag and trophy to Mayor Costello. At the ceremony, the lord mayor announced the eleven individuals who join boxer Bernard Dunne as Ambassadors of Dublin Sport 2010 and presented each with a piece of engraved Dublin Crystal. They are from a wide range of sports and include people who coach and referee, individuals who established sports clubs and those involved in running clubs and participating in sports at all levels. "Our ambassadors of sport give an enormous amount of their time, energy and personal commitment in order to make Dublin the sporting city that it is. We commend them and are very grateful for all that they do. I hope that by highlighting how these individuals contribute to their sports and in turn help to strengthen communities, that others will be inspired by them to get involved in sport too," said Mayor Costello. The Dublin - European Capital of Sport 2010 website, www.dublinsport.ie, provides details about what is happening during the year, including sporting fixtures, photos and video from events, a map of sporting facilities and profiles of the ambassadors of sport and sports clubs and organisations are encouraged to post their fixtures and events on the site.