"Sport should be promoted as much as possible and I feel that if, like me, you’re in a position to help something like this, I feel like you should do it.”
Carl Frampton - 2019 Celebration of Sport
11,500 attendees and counting
Department for Communities Celebration of Sport Event 2013 - 2024
When the Department for Communities originally tasked us with creating an event that would inspire children through sport in 2013 whilst celebrating the success of the Olympians and Paralympians who had competed in the London 2012 games. We knew there was on opportunity to create something really special, not just for the Department for Communities, or for us, but for every child who attended. Having now delivered 12 Celebrations of Sport, and welcomed over 11,500 young people to the event at 11 different venues.
Over the course of the 12 years, the event has hosted Gold Medalists from summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics. Rugby and Football international players, Belfast Giants, international hockey players, honestly, far to many to name. We’ve had trophies such as The Claret Jug from The Open, The Sam Maguire, too many ice hockey trophies to name amongst others.
But at it’s heart, the event has always been about the children to come on the day to pick up something new, whether it’s a hurl, hockey stick or sit on a moto-x bike. It’s about giving them as many opportunities to something new.
2024 FOCUS
With approximately 200 contact points needed to deliver this event, it couldn’t be planned on the back of a napkin. To ensure we created a memorable event, preparations began 6 months in advance.
Our plan this year was to deliver two events in difference council locations, within a week of each other. First in Ballymoney and then a week later in Craigavon.
Over the years we’ve transitioned from printed registration forms, to pdfs and now are very much utilising our website to streamline our processing of applications. In fact, the Ballymoney event filled up it’s quota of space inside 24hrs which was a record. Gone are the days of chasing schools, we now have the marketing collateral and process that they are now fighting for space! Nice problems to have!
Craigavon wasn’t much slower filling up their space in 48 hours. Of course it’s nice to know that people want to come to the event, but what it actually means is we can dedicate our time to planning the delivery of the event and not fighting to get bodies through the door.
Celebration of Sport 2024 event management in numbers
2 Venues
200 Contact Points
22 Schools
1500 Children
30 Staff
45 Sports
“Thank you so much for Friday. It was honestly the best day. Hillcroft had an absolute ball… We were so proud that all of our pupils participated and that some participated in events that was completely outside their comfort zone. Well done on a great day!”