HOCKEY IRELAND TO RECEIVE IMPROVED SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS FOLLOWING SPORT IRELAND’S FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Sport Ireland today announced an enhanced funding model for all Irish Olympic sports, including hockey, as part of the Government’s National Sports Policy 2018-2027. The additional 4 million euros of investment planned for 2023 will be allocated to specific initiatives within high-performance sport, including hockey.
Training, Paris 2024, supporting athletes and activating high performance strategies are priority investment areas for Sport Ireland. It will address the unique costs of performance programs and recognize the higher costs of doing business in performance sport.
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Minister Catherine Martin TD said: “Through this funding we can continue to support and advocate for our athletes with their sporting trips at the European and World Championships, at the same time as we help them achieve qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The National Sports Policy 2021-2032 aims to provide continued support to our High Performance Program through increased levels of funding.”
Sport Ireland Chief Executive Dr Úna May commented: “Our high performance strategy sets high ambitions. To achieve these goals, athletes and organizations require constant support. Sport Ireland will invest more than 40 million euros throughout the Paris Cycle (2021-2024). This is an increase of 31m in the Tokyo Cycle (2017-2020), an increase of 30%”.
Sport Ireland’s total funding in Hockey Ireland is €3.3m for the Paris cycle.
Commenting on Sport Ireland’s announcement today, Hockey Ireland’s director of high performance, Lisa Jacob, said: “Hockey Ireland is a huge beneficiary of the funding announced today. It not only continues but builds on the support we have received from Sport Ireland for many years.”
“Additional support directly to athletes will allow women’s hockey to prepare and perform without barriers to maximize their collective potential. The team and Hockey Ireland recognize the opportunity it presents to excel and hopefully qualify for Paris 2024. We will work hard to ensure we can deliver on this investment.”
