from Athletics Northern Ireland The Princess Royal has officially launched a new trust in Northern Ireland named after Dame Mary Peters, the 1972 Olympic pentathlon champion. (September 23rd) The Mary Peters Trust will replace the Ulster Sports Trust, founded in 1975 to celebrate her victory in Munich.
The Princess Royal, a member of the International Olympic Committee, met Dame Mary and other Northern Ireland Olympians at a reception held in the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office at Hillsborough Castle.
Among those present were Jim Kirkwood, a member of the British hockey team that won the Olympic medal in Seoul in 1988, and former Sports Minister Kate Hoey, herself once a good-class athlete and now a special advisor about London 2012 to London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The aim of the Trust is to help raise the profile of sporting organisations and create a platform for fundraising efforts to provide often much needed financial help to able-bodied and disabled individuals from any recognised sport.
Dame Mary accompanied the Princess Royal, a member of the London 2012 Board, during the event which began with young people holding Olympic torches lining their route through the building. She also presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
Dame Mary Peters is the Patron of Athletics Northern Ireland. Full information on Mary and her Olympic achievements can be found under ‘About Us’ on the homepage.
