SPORTS TOURISM:THE ANNOUNCEMENT of a major football tournament featuring some of Europe's biggest clubs could bring in thousands of visitors to Dublin, Tourism Ireland has said.
European champions Inter Milan will be one of three clubs taking part in the four team tournament at the Aviva Stadium at the end of July. Manchester City and Dutch giants Ajax have been mooted for the tournament which will be held every year for the next 10 years and will be televised across Europe. A League of Ireland squad will provide the home interest.
The organiser, Endemol Sports, is hopeful the tournament will become the prime pre-season competition in Europe. Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons said they hoped to use the Aviva tournament to market Ireland in a similar way as to when Real Madrid came here for a pre-season friendly last year, followed by Villareal this year, with the Europa League final being hosted at the Aviva next year.
“Games involving high profile teams, like Inter Milan, have the potential to attract a large number of visitors. A large media contingent travels with these teams, so we expect the games to attract huge publicity, providing Tourism Ireland with a great ‘hook’ to showcase Dublin and Ireland, and more generally the many attractions that the island of Ireland offers as a holiday destination,” he said.
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