Jeffrey Donaldson predicts dithering over the Maze cost us a key role in 2012 Olympics

Delays over the building of the Maze stadium have most likely cost Northern Ireland any chance of hosting an Olympic event in 2012, a Stormont Minister has warned.

Jeffrey Donaldson was speaking after Belfast joined the rest of the UK in marking the handover of the Olympics to London with a special ceremony at the Botanic Gardens yesterday.

Hundreds of people gathered at the venue to welcome the Olympic flag to Northern Ireland as the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics came to a end.

A big screen broadcast the official handover from Beijing Mayor Giu Jinlong to London’s Mayor Boris Johnson.

To mark the occasion a group of local school children handed an official Olympic flag to Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Hartley to symbolise the beginning of Northern Ireland’s involvement in the forthcoming games.

Local choir Sing Belfast along with the Armagh Rhymers and performers from the Indian community then led the crowd in the UK’s biggest sing-a-long, Sing the Nation, which was being simultaneously held in 25 cities across the two islands.

Each city sang Summer Celebration — the official welcoming song of London 2012.

Visitors were also treated to renditions of I’ll Tell me Ma and Danny Boy and an Indian folk song Insaaf Kii Dagar Pe, which was the final song.

Speaking after the event, which was being held during the Belfast Mela festival, Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson said the 2012 games could provide Northern Ireland with a unique economic opportunity, but because of the delays over the Maze stadium, it could miss out.

“Well, we had hoped that if we had a national stadium then we might have hosted some of the events but I have to say that as time is marching on it looks increasingly unlikely, which is really sad. Things like this only come along once in a generation, maybe every two generations,” he said.

“It’s a marvellous opportunity for the UK and it’s a marvellous opportunity for Northern Ireland to be part of and I do hope we do get that opportunity.”

However, last night Sinn Fein Assembly member and chairperson of the DCAL committee Barry McElduff hit out at the DUP MLA’s comments saying the reason there was so many delays was because the DUP was “internally split on the issue”.

“Jeffrey Donaldson’s comments could be taken more seriously if his party were not blocking the multi sports stadium and with it a massive capital investment which is much needed in the current economic climate,” he said.

“Edwin Poots, Gregory Campbell, Nigel Dodds and Peter Robinson have messed around with this issue and have yet to even bring a paper on the Long Kesh site to the Executive.”

Meanwhile, a number of councils throughout Northern Ireland held their own Olympic handover ceremonies yesterday. Among those flying the Olympic flag was Castlereagh Borough Castle.

Mayor Ann-Marie Beattie said she was proud that Dundonald International Ice Bowl was selected to take part in the official handover ceremony with other regions across the UK.

“This is a momentous day for sport as London celebrates becoming the official Olympic Games Host City, following Great Britain's overwhelming medal success in Beijing,” she said.

“I am delighted to be involved in today's proceedings and look forward with great anticipation along with the citizens of Castlereagh to the 2012 Games.”

An official Olympic Handover Flag was also raised at Ward Park in Bangor after it was also chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games as part of the 500 places to host the flag.

Belfast Telegraph