The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey club from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the British Elite League.

Sectarianism had been perceived as a major problem in some popular sports in Northern Ireland for many years. When the Giants were founded, it was decided that the club would take a complete non-sectarian line. Subsequently the club became a huge success as sports fans tired by the trouble which came with following some other sports came to the neutral and safe feeling Odyssey Arena.

Initially members of the now defunct Superleague, the Giants won the championship in 2001-02 and were Play Off Champions in 2002-03. With the Superleague's demise, there were geniune concerns that the Giants would not pull through major financial pressures which had developed.

However with the creation of the new Elite League for the 2003-04 season, the Giants survived. The Giants finished 4th in the league's first season but failed to reach the end of season playoff semi-finals.

In the current 2004-05 season the Giants are well in contention for the Elite League Championship.

External Links

• Belfast Giants Official Website (http://www.belfastgiants.com/)
• Belfast Giants Popular Fansite (http://www.kingdomofthegiants.com/)