Sport Ireland announce €24m funding package for high-performance sport – The Irish Times
After a record haul of 105 Irish medals on the international sporting stage in 2022 – 44 wins at seniors, 61 at minors – Sport Ireland has announced a further €24m multi-annual funding package for elite sport for 2023, which is mainly targeted next this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
This includes an additional investment of €4 million made available last year for specific initiatives in Irish elite sport.
Under the agreed multi-year funding commitment for 2022-2024, €10.8 million in high-performance program funding will be made available to 19 national governing bodies to support the implementation of their performance programs in 2023.
A further €950,000 has been allocated to the Olympic Association of Ireland (€500,000) and Paralympics Ireland (€450,000) for operational and administrative support.
The multi-year funding will also extend to the International Carding Scheme, which provides financial support to athletes for their training and competition programs.
Athletes who have met the criteria for sponsorship in 2022 will be enrolled in the International Carding Scheme for 2023 and 2024. This allows athletes to focus on training and performance while qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For 2023, Sport Ireland will invest €3,486,500 under the International Carding Scheme. This supports 127 athletes and three relay/pool sponsorships in 14 sports: 32 athletes were awarded the highest podium sponsorship category (€40,000); 32 athletes were awarded a world-class sponsorship (€25,000); 63 athletes received international funding (€18,000).
In 2022, Sport Ireland provided €1.9m in High Performance Impact Funding and this funding stream will be available again in 2023. He will address one-time costs of high-performance programs and acknowledge the increased costs of doing business in high-performance sports.
“Our high-performance strategy sets high ambitions for Ireland’s performance in international competitions,” said Dr. Una May, Managing Director of Sport Ireland. “In order to achieve these goals, athletes and organizations need consistent support.
“Sport Ireland will invest a total of over €40m in funding for high performance programs throughout the Paris Cycle (2021-2024). This is an increase from 31 million euros in the Tokyo Cycle (2017-2020). By providing a multi-year funding package, Sport Ireland is helping athletes focus fully on their training and preparation.”
This continued tracking by Sport Ireland will invest over €67 million in high-performance sport between 2022 and 2024.
There is also an extension of the senior hockey player finance scheme from 2022 to 2024. In the third quarter of 2022 the scheme was set up and Sport Ireland invested €150,000.
In 2023 and 2024, Sport Ireland will invest €300,000 annually in Hockey Ireland to support the women’s team. This funding will directly support players in their training and competition plans as they aim to qualify for Paris 2024.
Sport Ireland also announced the appointment of Ciarán Ward as Head of High Performance Coaching. A Champion Coach of the International Judo Federation and an Irish Olympian in 1992 and 1996. Ward has been Performance Director for Irish Judo since 2020 and before that Performance Lead for Judo Northern Ireland (2016-2023).
As part of Sport Ireland’s commitment to support athletes’ transition into a post-sport career, 13 athletes were admitted to the Athlete Career Transition (ACT) program in 2022, in addition to the 19 athletes admitted in 2021. A total of 33 athletes have been admitted to the ACT program, which provides financial and non-financial assistance to retired carded athletes.
High Performance Program Funding Package – 2023/2021-2024
Rowing Ireland €1,093,333/€3,900,000
Paralympics Ireland €1,000,000/€3,700,000
Irish Athletic Boxing Association €965,000/€3,500,000
Athletics Ireland €841,667/€3,365,000
Ice Hockey Ireland €856,667/€3,300,000
Irish Sailing Association €800,000/€3,200,000
Equestrian Ireland €803,333/€3,100,000
Swimming Ireland €756,667/€2,900,000
Cycling Ireland €520,000/€2,000,000
Golf Ireland €516,667/€2,000,000
Gymnastics Ireland €506,667/€1,750,000
Irish Rugby Football Union €416,667/€1,550,000
Badminton Ireland €346,667/€1,200,000
Cricket Ireland €333,333/€1,200,000
Pentathlon Ireland €286,667/€1,150,000
Triathlon Ireland €250,000/€1,000,000
Irish Judo Association €226,667/€750,000
Canoeing Ireland €216,667/€700,000
Irish Taekwondo Union €150,000/€500,000
Total HP program funding €10,886,669 €40,765,000