Fitzsimons hails NI success story

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Aug 2005

North Down Alliance Alderman Marsden Fitzsimons has hailed the Atlantic Rim Games international bowls championship, held in Bangor this month, as a true success story for Northern Ireland.

Alderman Fitzsimons, Chair of the North Down Borough Council Leisure Committee, stated, "We in North Down Borough Council have been delighted to assist the success of the Atlantic Rim Games at short notice.

"Bangor has hosted a wonderful event, having been given only eight months to organize it. This prestigious event, which attracted nearly 200 competitors from around the world, would surely have gone to the wall if we had not stepped in. However, we now have assurances from World Bowls Ltd that the sucess of this year's event will see the competition continue into the future.

"A lot of people have put in a huge amount of work to make this possible. Saving this event and putting on such a good show is a true success story, an example of what we in Northern Ireland can achieve if we work together and adopt a 'can-do' attitude.

"North Down is now well positioned to develop further as a host to major sporting events."

ENDS