Derry's Big Screen switch on for Ireland v Belgium

Watching the fastest paralympian in the world, Jason Smyth, take gold and break his own world record in the 100m, on the big screen in Derry oback in 2012. Jason greeted by his family after the race. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Â©

A warning has been issued, however, that the Fan Zone event at Waterloo Place will be a family friendly event and no alcohol consumption will be permitted, with stewarts in attendace.

This will mark the start of all forthcoming Republic and Northern Ireland games wbeing screened plus later stage matches in the tournament.

Sinn Fein Councillor Elisha McCallion requested the move at the June Business & Culture meeting sitting in Strabane on Tuesday.

Colr. McCallion said that there was also “merit in scoping out the use of that large screen in Waterloo Place” for forthcoming sporting occasions such as the Olympics and the World Cup.

She added: “Our people are saying to us why do we not have a Fanzone when we have the equipment there. I am asking officers to scope out doing that.”

“We have seen how effective it can be when we do it and do it right,” she added.

COSTS ACCOUNTED FOR

Stephen Gillespie, the Council’s Director of Business and Culture, said officers have scoped out using the Big Screen for the ‘Euros’ and it can be done with the costs accounted for.

SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney said: “Showing Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland matches on the council screen at Waterloo place offers a real opportunity to unite people in our city through sport.”

The Big Screen could also be moved in future to a new location for live screening of future sporting and other events.

The move came to light as the Council announced that it will now not proceed with the offer to become part of the FanZone Network for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

This was because the company which had proposed organising the local participation, B-focused Ltd, have now come back and said they would not be in a position to do so.