NI sports museum being discussed at the Assembly brought forward by Alan Chambers MLA
Across many sports including soccer, rugby, golf, athletics, gaelic sports, horse racing and equestrian sports martial arts, motor sports, swimming, snooker, gymnastics and indeed special olympics are other sporting areas, there are many household names that could grace a Northern Ireland sports’ museum.
Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers is bringing forward a motion to the Assembly today calling on the Ministers for Economy and Communities to establish a working group, comprised of key sporting stakeholders to explore the feasibility and appetite for a Northern Ireland sporting museum.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Alan Chambers MLA said: “Northern Ireland is long overdue a sporting museum, one that champions our sporting heroes and medallists over the years and in the years to come.
“That is why I’m bringing forward a motion calling on the Ministers for Economy and Communities to establish a working group, comprised of key sporting stakeholders, to explore the feasibility and appetite for such a museum.
“It is intended to add support to the efforts of Dame Mary Peters and others who have worked for many years to establish such a facility. It is a long‑held passion that I share with them.
“I recall the doubts expressed by many about the sustainability of the Titanic Centre being built in Belfast, and the requirement for 290,000 annual visitors for it to break even.
“From the moment it opened its doors in 2012, attendance figures have grown year on year, and the figure for 2024 was an amazing 900,000 visitors.
“I firmly believe that the rich sporting history we have in Northern Ireland will ensure that a sports museum becomes a major tourist attraction, with the added value of creating employment.
“The efforts of all our sporting icons, including our para‑athletes, have enhanced the worldwide reputation of where we call home. Their successes have given our population a major lift in spirit when we sometimes needed it most.
“A museum that honours their achievements would be a lasting legacy to our local sporting heroes and would serve to motivate future generations to take up a sport and perhaps emulate our champions.
“In the words of that popular movie, Field of Dreams, ‘Build it and they will come.”
