MINISTER FOR SPORT Michael Ring yesterday confirmed that he had contacted the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) with a view to establishing recognised regulations for the sport in Ireland.
Following the death of fighter Joao Carvalho on 11 April, MMA has come under intense scrutiny across the globe and the issue of regulation in Ireland has been an issue of grave concern.
At present, amateur MMA in this country is presided over by the Irish Amateur Pankration Association (IAPA) which is associated with the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association (IAWA) governing body. As president of IAPA, John Kavanagh issued a statement from Iceland last night welcoming Minister Ring’s commitment to meeting with the heads of the sport.
“A positive preliminary meeting took place (on Wednesday) between Minister Michael Ring, a representative of Sport Ireland, Professor Dan Healy and senior civil servants. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future of MMA in Ireland, its regulation and safety measures at competitions.
Over the course of the next few weeks, a series of meetings are to take place between the IAPA and government officials to commence work towards regulating our sport efficiently and safely.”
Kavanagh highlights the success Irish amateurs have enjoyed at the sport’s world championships last year and its rise in popularity with ‘close to 100 MMA clubs across the country’.
He adds: “I see this acknowledgment by the Sports Minister and government officials as a very positive first step towards our excellent athletes receiving the same level of support and recognition as Ireland’s fantastic national sports teams do when they travel and represent their country.
“We have a lot of work to do, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I’m happy that after nearly 20 years of promoting MMA in Ireland to be making that first step.”
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