Jul 31, 2014
Every month the Federation selects an NGB to profile to see how they are getting on, what events are coming up and all the information you might need to know about them. This month, the Federation has looked at Athletics Ireland
It is accepted that the organisation was formed in 1873 and adopted the trading name of Athletics Ireland in 1999. Athletics Ireland is the National Governing Body for track & field, cross country, race walking and road running in Ireland. Internationally aligned with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Athletics Ireland is affiliated to the European Athletic Association (EAA). On top of this it is also a member of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
The primary objective is to promote and develop the sport at every level from recreational running and schools competitions through to supporting Ireland’s elite athletes in international competition. Athletics is run by a board of elected volunteer members who work in tandem with full time staff based in Dublin as well as around the country. What is vitally important is the strong volunteer ethos within the organisation. The thousands of administrators, officials and coaches who give freely of their time are imperative to Athletics Irelands success.
Membership:
There are 320 affiliated clubs in Ireland with a combined membership of just under 50,000.
Fact File:
- Athletic contests in running, walking, jumping, and throwing are among the oldest of all sports dating back as far as 2250BC
- A standard outdoor track is in the shape of a stadium, 400 metres in length and has at least 8 lanes that are 1.22 metres in width.
- The international governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was founded in 1912 and overlooks 213 member nations and territories, which are divided into six continental areas.
- These six area associations are:
– Asian Athletics Association (AAA)
– Confederation of African Athletics (CAA)
– South American Athletics Confederation (CONSUDATLE)
– North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACACAA)
– European Athletic Association (EAA)
– Oceania Athletics Association (OAA)
2013 Highlights:
- Rob Heffernan won Gold in the 50 km Race Walk at the IAAF World Championship in Moscow, Russia.
- Fionnuala Britton came 4th in the Cross Country 8 km at the 20th European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia
- There were 12 medals won at Major championships and 31 new National Irish Records set.
- Athletic Ireland hosted the European Team Championships which saw 700 athletes from 12 countries compete for honours in Morton Stadium, Santry.
- The Athletics Ireland membership increased to 49,500 up 17% on 2012 with 14 new clubs formed; making it one of Ireland’s fastest growing sports
- Appointment of its first full time coach Chris Jones, as National Endurance Coach and over 1,200 coaches undertook a coach education programme
Key Programmes:
Athletics Ireland launched a new Strategic Plan in 2013
The Mission of Athletics Ireland
Athletics Ireland has a mission to support and develop the athletes of Ireland of all ages, disciplines and abilities.
Strategic priorities for the period 2013 to 2016:
- To promote the growth of the sport of athletics, health and fitness generally among our members.
- To support the achievements of our elite athletes, in particular by implementing the High Performance Plan already published.
- To build on the existing base of Coaches and Officials.
- To promote the sport of athletics among Juveniles and Schools.
- To promote health and fitness in the population as a whole.
- To further develop the supporting infrastructure.
- To ensure good governance and financial stability.
Athletics published a ‘High Performance Plan 2013-2016’. The key points of this High Performance Plan are:
- 1st plan of its type in Irish athletics
- Ambition is to have “more Irish athletes winning on world stage”
- Target 24 medal opportunities at major championships
- Provides both a vision and a practical framework for success
- It’s an evidence and systems based approach which is sustainable in the long term
- It’s designed to provide athletes with support across every aspect of High Performance
- Will require change of approach – from AAI, athletes, coaches
- It’s an investment in the future of Irish athletics
- High Performance strategies are proven to deliver success
Key Events in 2014
European Athletics Track & Field Championships, 12th August, Zurich
Youth Olympic Games, 16th August, China
European Cross Country Championships, 13th December, Bulgaria
Contact Info
All contact information can be found at the official website:
www.athleticsireland.ie
Twitter: @irishathletics
Jul 30, 2014
In the second installment of our Athlete interviews, the Federation caught up with the Ireland Woman’s Rugby Captain Fiona Coghlan. With Ireland’s opening World Cup match in Paris just around the corner, Fiona talked prized possessions, sporting heroes and holiday destinations!
Q1. What is a typical training week like for you when you are with Ireland?
So the Saturday and Sunday we’d do 4 sessions, an hour and a half each. Monday is a recovery day so nothing too hectic. Tuesday is a double up so we’ve weights and in the evening conditioning and skills. Wednesday is individuals….. So for someone like me it might be speed, because I’m not the quickest!! Thursday again is a double up – so it’s weights in the morning and then either conditioning or speed in the evening. Then Friday is a rest day, so it’s intense enough…. (smile)
Q2. What are your three most prized possessions?
Prized possessions…… Em, my hair drier! My gumshield and probably my phone. (And what phone is that?) It’s an iphone. It’s not even a high tech one, I don’t even know how to use half the stuff on it.
Q3. What’s your favourite film?
Hmm….Like Shawshank Redemptions a classic, but I love dirty dancing!
Q4. Do you have a sporting hero?
When I was younger I always wanted to be Stefanie Graf you know, but that’s kinda changed with things going on like. Brian O’Driscoll is amazing but when I was growing up it was Stefanie Graf yeah.
Stefanie Graf has always been a sporting hero of Fiona’s
Q5. You can invite three people to dinner – who would they be and why?
Hmm this always changes (big smile) em Nelson Mandela because I just think he’s amazing. Em I’d love to meet Richie McCaw just to you know get into his mind as a leader and em the last one, I dunno probably some comedian just to keep it funny. Actually maybe one of the girls on the squad just for balance…. Yeah one of the girls on the squad for a bit of a laugh yeah.
McCaw, pictured talking to referee Jaco Peyper, is widely regarded as one of the best captains
Q6. Do you have a favourite restaurant?
Favourite restaurant em that changes as well but probably Matt the Thresher…. Fish restaurant it’s really good!
Q7. Are you into any TV series?
Just cos I’ve been off (Fiona is a teacher) I watched House of Cards, it was really good so I’m looking for the new episode and I’ll probably look for something else when we’re away at the World Cup, there will be a bit of down time. I dunno everyone is throwing different ideas so we’ll see – Suits maybe or something like that.
Q8. What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever bought?
Oh Jesus…. (very big smile and laugh) Probably a pair of fake leather trousers like a moment from Ross from Friends when he took them off and he tried to put them back on. Probably a pair of those they were horrific and I was out for a night and yeah they were the worst thing I’ve ever bought!
Q9. Where would you like to go on holidays – but you can’t have been there before?
Ohhh eh South America somewhere. Em yeah probably do all of South America if I could like the Inca Trail and Rio and everything like that yeah.
Peru’s Inca Trail………..
Q10. Do you have any phobias?
Em no I don’t like a lot of things like spiders and heights but if someone challenged me to do something I’d overcome it so I don’t have phobias as such. Like I wouldn’t be fond of heights like I wouldn’t find this desire to go jumping but if someone challenged me I’d do it!
Quick Fire Round
Twitter or Facebook
Twitter!
Movie or TV
TV
Chinese or Indian
Indian
Text or Whatsapp
Text
Coke or Pepsi
Coke
Music Festival or Comedy Gig
Music Festival
Dog or Cat
Dog
Burger or Hot Dog
Burger
The Federation want to wish Fiona and the rest of the Ireland team the best of luck in the Woman’s Rugby World Cup.
Ireland’s pool matches will be shown live on TG4.
In the pool stages, Ireland take on:
USA – Friday 1st August KO 4 p.m. (Irish time)
New Zealand – Tuesday 5th August KO 5 p.m. (Irish time)
Kazakhstan – Saturday 9th August KO 12 p.m. (Irish time)
Jul 11, 2014
It has been announced that Mr. Paschal Donohoe, T.D. has been chosen as the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. By doing so, he replaces Mr. Leo Varadkar who has moved to the position of Health Minister.
Prior to the announcement, Mr. Donohoe was appointed Minister of State for European Affairs at the Dept of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade in July 2013. He was elected to the Dail in February 2011 and was previously elected to Seanad Eireann in 2007 where he was the Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Transport.
Minister. Donohoe was a member of Dublin City Council from 2004 to 2007. He was educated at St Declan’s CBS, Cabra and Trinity College, Dublin. After graduation he worked in the UK and Ireland and became the Sales & Marketing Director for a multinational company. Mr. Donohoe is married with two young children and lives in Shandon Park, Phibsborough.
The Federation of Irish Sport is looking forward to working with Minster Donohoe moving forward.
The Federation would like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Varadkar for all his work for sport during his tenure at the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport. We are grateful to him for his support for the Federation and wish him all the very best at the Department of Health. We look forward to maintaining our working relationship with him there through the Healthy Ireland initiative in which, the Federation are proud to play a part.
Jul 10, 2014
Work will start on a national High Performance Centre at the Irish Institute of Sport after Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar signed off on the project today.
The Centre will provide training, rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning facilities for athletes in a new extension at the existing Irish Institute of Sport building at the National Sports Campus in Dublin.
Athletes from a wide range of sports will be catered for including boxing and athletics. Dedicated facilities will include a six-lane running track, jumps area, performance analysis area, strength and conditioning facilities, rehabilitation and physiotherapy areas and a boxing area.
“I’m delighted that work can now start on the High Performance Centre. It represents the first stage of the new National Indoor Arena and will be completed in time to support our elite athletes in their preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio,” Minster Varadkar said.
“The Institute of Irish Sport already offers unparalleled support for our elite athletes and these new facilities will expand the range of services available.”
Minister Varadkar also approved the start of work on a Campus Pavilion building, to accommodate changing facilities for the National Indoor Arena. Work on the High Performance Centre and Pavilion Building is expected to start in September for a nine month period, once the necessary procurement process has been conducted by the National Sports Campus Development Authority.
Jul 4, 2014
Federation of Irish Sport Annual Conference 2014 – Feedback
The Federation of Irish Sport held its second annual conference back in May at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. The theme of the conference was Shaping Sports Future with Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Mr Leo Varadkar the keynote speaker.
The conference was generally felt to be a success with over 160 people attending – building on the previous year’s inaugural event- however we believe there is still further room for improvement and appreciated the feedback we received from delegates.
Asked on their opinion of the conference – 97% answered that it was either exactly how they had anticipated it or it was better than they had anticipated – 50% said better, 47% said exactly as anticipated.
Asked if they were likely to attend next year’s conference, based on this year’s event 76% of those who took the survey said they were ‘very likely’. A further 13% said they would be ‘somewhat likely’ while 11% answered ‘unsure’.
Finally, we asked if attendees had any recommendations that they felt could improve the day in terms of moving forward. Below is a summary of the major points raised:
- More time should be allocated for a Q&A between the floor and the panellists. The majority of respondents thought the level of those speaking were of a very high calibre, but requested more time to ask some questions. A workshop was also suggested.
- Many thought the interviews between the Conference and the meal were hard to hear due to the proximity from the stage to the bar and delegates desire to network during this period. The Federation were disappointed this part of the conference could not be heard by some as the topics discussed were particularly interesting.
- ‘Pin on’ name badges were suggested instead of the lanyards. It was argued they would be at eye level and thus better utilised.
- Email addresses as well as contact information for all attending delegates be made available to take home.
Jul 4, 2014
Featured Event: Special Olympics Ireland Games 2014
“LET ME WIN BUT IF I CANNOT WIN LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT”
-Athlete Oath
Location: Limerick, Clare & Tipperary.
DATE: Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th June 2014
PARTICIPATING TEAMS/ATHLETES/SPORTS: 1,500 athletes took part in 14 olympic type sports over the entire weekend. There was a wide variety of sports across the three counties, with the majority taking place in University of Limerick. UL facilities are amongst the best in the country acted as a great centre for the occasion.
The sports included were:
- Athletics
- Aquatics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Bocce
- Bowling
- Equestrian
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Kayaking
- Motor Activities Training Programme
- Pitch and Putt
- Table Tennis
About Special Olympics Ireland:
Special Olympics Ireland is a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability, but it provides athletes with far more than the physical benefits of sport. Special Olympics changes lives. Through sport, athletes develop both physically and emotionally, they make new friends and realise their dreams. Special Olympics Ireland enables our athletes to achieve and win not only in sport but in life too.
Special Olympics Ireland currently has almost 10,000 registered athletes participating in 15 sports in 385 Clubs throughout the island of Ireland. These athletes are supported by their families and a team of 25,000 volunteers who give of their time to help out at sporting and fundraising events.
MISSION
The mission of Special Olympics Ireland is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
VISION
The vision is to build the programme offered by Special Olympics Ireland so that every person with a learning disability has the opportunity, in their local community, to participate in high quality sport and development activities that bring life-changing experiences of increased skills, self-confidence and joy.
THE EVENT:
Venue – With Limerick as the centre, the Games took place within a big geographical area, encompassing three counties. The centre of the Special Olympics was in University of Limerick (UL) in Castletroy. UL was the venue for Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Football, Gymnastics, Kayaking and Motor Activities Training Programme. Those taking part in Golf did so at the Ballykisteen Golf Club in County Tipperary, while Equestrian took place in the Clonshire Equestrian Centre in Adare County Limerick. Mary Immaculate College hosted the Table Tennis as well as the Badminton while Bocce was took place in the Delta Sports Dome, again in Limerick. Pitch n’ Putt took place at Murroe Pitch and Putt. Finally the third County – Clare – hosted Bowling at the Ennis Leisure World.
Event in Numbers – The Special Olympics Games in Limerick saw a magnificent level of participation. Five Delegations from Eastern, Connaught, Leinster, Munster and Ulster regions participated comprising 1,500 athletes, xxx coaches with 3,000 volunteers giving of their time to host the Games. Over 7,000 people attended the Opening Ceremony, which began with a parade of the Delegations through Limerick City culminating in the People’s Park with a host of entertainers, including signer Paddy Casey. There was a real carnival atmosphere in Limerick with the people of Limerick coming out in huge numbers to cheer on the teams
What next for Special Olympics in 2014?
As a result of these games, 100 Athletes will be chosen to represent Team Ireland at the Special Olympics World Summer games in Los Angeles next year.
On a continual basis Special Olympics offers weekly training across multiple sports as well as regular competitions for those who want to compete. Competition is not for everyone, so our focus is on participation and helping every athlete achieve their personal best.
How the event went:
The Special Olympics in Limerick was a major success. With 1,500 athletes taking part in 14 sports the variety of sport was one of the major highlights.
Special Olympics Ireland CEO Matt English said: “We need to make sure that every new athlete that joins the programme their lives will be changed and they will get to experience hopefully a life-long involvement, because Special Olympics have athletes here today the youngest was 8 and the oldest was 77. It is life-long.”
English continued: “We want to make sure that after this we keep Special Olympics strong because there are 1,500 athletes participated in the games here but there are 10,000 athletes that are training week in week out and I think it’s important that people realise that we need never to get complacent about Special Olympics.”
The games smooth running was hugely attributed to the 3,000 plus strong volunteer force and whose help was invaluable.
English also praised the 120 health professionals, including opticians, dentist, podiatrists and dieticians, who were on hand to give out expert free advice to athletes, who availed of full eye tests and were given prescriptions for new glasses and goggles free of charge.
