Visa Waiver During Olympics

Following a request from British immigration minister, Damien Greene, holders of official Olympics accreditation will not require a visa to visit Ireland following a decision by the Government to introduce a waiver for the period leading up to and during the London Olympics.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said in a statement today: “I am delighted to announce this initiative which is designed to facilitate competitors and their teams getting to and from the Games.”

“It is the Government’s objective,” he continued, “that the opportunity of the London Olympics be used to encourage teams and other persons attending the Games to visit Ireland. This measure supports that aim.”

In 2006 former minister for sport John O’Donoghue described the 2012 Olympic Games as a “once in a lifetime opportunity for Ireland”.

A Government taskforce was set up to identify opportunities arising from Ireland's proximity to London. It also hoped to try and market Ireland for its training facilities and other expertise ahead of the games.

However, with just four months to go before the Olympics, hopes of hosting significant numbers of athletes in training camps around the country have floundered.

Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey resigned from the task force last November, citing a lack in progress in providing facilities that would attract teams to train here.

The visa waiver period will commence on 30th March 2012 and conclude on 8th November 2012.

Some conditions apply including that arrival in the State will only be permitted at Dublin and Shannon Airports and that the permission to stay in Ireland will be no more than 90 days.