Feb 22, 2013
From Triathlon Ireland
Triathlon Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Kitchen as the new Chief Executive Officer. Chris is well placed to steer Triathlon Ireland through the substantial growth they are experiencing having many years’ experience in both business and sport, running a number of companies as well as being heavily involved in triathlon as a competitor, technical official, coach and Board member.
Chris got involved as an athlete in triathlon in the mid 80’s and went on to set up a local Triathlon club, Chiltern Triathletes, in 1989, acting as Club Secretary for many years and is still Club Coach. He became a race referee in 1992, Qualified as one of the first Level 3 Coaches in the UK in 1994, helped write and deliver the early Level 1 and 2 Coach Education programmes and has run many coaching days or weekends.
He competed for GB in the Age Group Team at the ITU World Long Distance Championships in Nice twice in the ‘90s. In 2002, he became the BTA Long Distance Elite Team Manager during a time which saw a series of World and European Champions. Chris has been the race director of numerous triathlon events including a Children’s Triathlon which is in its 15th year and acted as ITU Team Leader in World Championship events around the World.
He was one of the key players in the British Triathlon’s modernisation programme and in January 2007 was appointed as Director with the Performance Portfolio to the British Triathlon Board. He was a part of the Board which oversaw a transition to a company with substantial reserves, significant growth and medal success in London 2012. Heavily involved in the High Performance Programme, Chris led the strategic direction, chaired the elite selection panels across all disciplines and reported to the Board on Performance matters.
The ITU Congress in Auckland saw him re-elected onto the ITU Multisport Committee where he now acts as Chair in the strategic development of Duathlon, Long Distance Triathlon, Cross Triathlon, Winter Triathlon and Aquathlon worldwide.
With a business background in Document Management Systems, Software Development, IT Solutions and Website Development he has substantial management experience and commercial knowledge and understanding.
Commenting on his appointment Chris said. “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as CEO. Triathlon in Ireland is really buoyant and exciting with a growing membership supported by coaches and technical officials and of course some great events. I have a great team behind me, both staff and volunteers, a supportive board and I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do to help develop Triathlon Ireland for triathletes in Ireland.”
Feb 21, 2013
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Dr Leo Varadkar, has highlighted his concerns that the introduction of a ban on alcohol sponsorship will have detrimental effect on Irish Sport, impacting both on the development of sport and opportunities available for people to partake in sport.
Dr Varadkar was responding to several parliamentary questions raised on Tuesday in relation to initiatives soon to be presented to government by Minister of State Alex White, which it is thought may see a proposal to ban alcohol sponsorship of sport.
Minister Varadkar confirmed that he was full supportive of measures to reduce levels of alcohol consumption and binge drinking he said: “I am concerned that placing constraints on sporting organisations by eliminating the alcohol industry as a source of sponsorship will have negative impacts on the development and availability of sport and consequently on our efforts to maintain and increase sporting participation at a local level.”
He continued: “In view of the the current economic constraints, Government investment in sport has had to be reduced in recent years. The imposition of a ban on sponsorship would further undermine the efforts of sporting organisations to be self-sufficient”
Minister Varadkar stated that it is estimated that alcohol sponsorship is worth €30m per year which, he put in context of the Irish Sports Council”s budget of just over €40 million for the current year. He also said that current difficulties being experienced by high profile teams and events suggest that this funding would not be easily replaced.
He believed that any measures introduced should be evidenced based, effective and proportionate. He also stated the need for consideration be given to the downside of any decision that might be made. Minister Varadkar stated that there was no evidence to show that a ban on sponsorship would be effective in terms of reducing alcohol consumption amongst youths. Reference was made to a recent European study which showed an increase in the number of youths in France who had admitted to having fiver or more drinks in one day over the course of the last 30 days despite the presence of such a ban on alcohol sponsorship there.
Minister Varadkar also referenced the reality that Irish teams were involved in international competition that would continue to be sponsored by alcohol companies and that all the introduction of such a ban here would do was deprive those Irish bodies of their proportion of the sponsorship monies.
Minister Varadkar did offer his alternative to a prohibition saying: “My preference is for the introduction of a voluntary system, such as currently exists in Australia, where the Department of Health would compensate sporting organisations who voluntarily give up such sponsorship and moving to the introduction of a ban only when it is shown that money lost can be replaces through alternative sponsors. Certainly, I do not think that the Government should impose such a law without fully compensating sports organisations for the revenue lost in the same way we compensated political parties where corporate and private donations were restricted.”
The Federation of Irish Sport has previously raised concerns with government about the detrimental effect such a ban would have on Irish Sport in light of the current funding environment. This is especially so given that, unlike other areas of the voluntary sector, sport does not qualify for charitable status and therefore does not, benefit from the same tax reliefs in respect of donations that often serve as an incentive for private sector investment.
The Federation has emphasised at all times that Irish Sport fully recognises the significant health and social challenges faced by Irish society from alcohol misuse. However, rather than introducing a ban the Federation of Irish Sport feels that a better way to deal with the underlying issues created by alcohol misuse would be to examine how Irish Sport and its wide network, stretching to every community in the country, could be best used to assist the government in the implementation of its strategy to tackle responsible alcohol usage and other public health issues.
A copy of the Federation’s submission to Minister Vardakar can be viewed here whilst recent correspondence to Minister White can be seen here.
To read the full transcript of Minister Varadkar’s answer to parliamentary questions on alcohol sponsorship in sport click here.
Feb 21, 2013
Combining Sports Science with Sports Retail to Improve Physical Health
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny launched the new partnership between Elverys Sport , the leading sports retailer, and Coaching Ireland, the organisation charged with improving the standards of coaching in Irish sport on an all island basis.
An Taoiseach said at the launch: “The Elverys brand has been synonymous with sport in Ireland for many years now. This exciting and innovative partnership with Coaching Ireland is a good example of how the public and private sector can successfully complement one another. It is a win-win situation for everybody and especially those who are actively engaged in healthy and sporting pursuits.
This innovative partnership will see Elverys support programmes of Coaching Ireland through the provision of a new education resource. In return Coaching Ireland will train and accredit Elverys staff in the technical and scientific aspects of sport and physical activity as well as provide information factsheets to customers of Elverys either in store or online.
The CEO of Elverys Sports Patrick Rowland welcomed the new partnership: “We welcome our new partner, Coaching Ireland and we look forward to many years of working together in the promotion of sport and physical activity. This unique partnership brings together private and public organisations and thereby galvanises the combined wealth of knowledge, for the benefit of the public and society at large. Our customers will have access to a wide range of technical and scientific information on aspects of sport and physical activity”.
John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council said; “There is a significant increase in participation in sport and physical activity and we all must do everything we can to sustain and grow that interest. The retail sector is uniquely placed to positively influence new participants and that is why we see so much value in the new initiative with Elverys”.
Sport is making a significant contribution to the Irish economy. The most recent Council study of the economic impact of sport showed that 2% of the overall value of consumer spending is on sport and sport-related goods and services. Sport and sport-related activities support over 38,000 full-time equivalent jobs, or over 2% of the overall level of employment in Ireland.
Participation in sport increased from 34% in 2009 to 46% in 2011. Sedentarism fell from 16% in 2009 to 13% in 2011. This means that sport is making a significant contribution to the health of the nation as research consistently highlights the contribution that physical activity makes to individual and community health. Regular physical activity reduces risks of stroke, diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure and many other conditions. Increased participation in physical activity will improve the physical health of the nation thus reducing our expenditure on the treatment of illness. Elverys and Coaching Ireland plan to play their part in achieving this laudable goal.
Michael McGeehin, Director of Coaching Ireland said “There is a high level of expertise within Coaching Ireland that we want to pass onto everyone involved in sport and physical activity. We are delighted to be involved with Elverys because it gives us a new means to communicate with a wide range of people who are interested in sport and they are providing us with additional, vital resources”.
This partnership is the first of its kind in Ireland and the amalgamated expertise of both Elverys and Coaching Ireland staff will bring together , on the shop floor, sports retail and sports science which will afford huge benefits to consumers.
Coaching Ireland has the lead role in the development of coaching on an all island basis, highlighting the importance of quality coaching in developing our sportspeople and providing opportunities for participants. It is an operational unit of the Irish Sports Council, the statutory agency for sport in Ireland.
Elverys Sports, the leading authentic sports retailer, has daily interaction with people interested in sport and physical exercise and are ideally positioned to promote their benefits. Customers at Elverys will have access to relevant and up-to-date scientific information and advice from trained staff and from information packs developed by Coaching Ireland. Special information events and forums , under the auspices of Elverys and Coaching Ireland, will be held, at which leading coaches will present. These events will cater for the needs of all sports people whether beginners or mature, in keeping with Elverys motto “Sport for Life”.
Feb 21, 2013
Powerade, the brand responsible for hydrating athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is today launching its partnership with Athletics Ireland as Official Sports Drink of Athletics Ireland.
Powerade will be used by the athletes in training and competition to assist hydration, performance and aid recovery. Ireland’s leading 400m athlete Brian Gregan was on hand to launch the exciting new partnership. Brian currently lies top of the 2013 European Indoor rankings over 400m and will start as one of the favourites to take the title at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden from the 1st-3rd of March.
Jennifer Branigan, Brand Activation Manager for Powerade Ireland, commented, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Athletics Ireland as Official Sports Drink this year. Powerade ION4 hydrates and fuels working bodies, giving athletes the potential to train harder, go for longer and perform better, to achieve what they are capable of”.
John Foley, Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland, commented, “Powerade is passionate about supporting athletics in Ireland. This is an exciting new partnership and we are looking forward to working with Powerade this year”.
Feb 18, 2013
Annalise Murphy’s outstanding fourth-place finish in the Laser Radial at London 2012 was rewarded again today (Monday) with the Irish Sailor of the Year prize by Afloat magazine.
Last August Ireland’s best Olympic sailing result in 30 years in any class was watched by countless numbers of TV viewers across Ireland and beyond.
And it was more than enough to earn the young sailor the honour of being named Sailor of the Year for 2012, topping a shortlist that featured fellow Olympic challengers Peter O’Leary and David Burrows, and such up-and-coming talents as Sophie Browne, Finn Lynch and Fionn Lynden.
The accolade recognises a remarkable 12 months of achievement for the young athlete, capped off by her stirring performance at the London Games.
Despite the heartbreak of so narrowly missing out on Olympic bronze in the medal race, her accomplishment was appreciated far beyond the Irish sailing community, and raised the profile of the sport in Ireland immeasurably.
The then 22-year-old, who sails for the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, had the entire country on edge last August as she battled with what Afloat’s own WM Nixon described as the “fierce challenge” of being top of the Women’s Laser Radial class, in stature as well as performance.
At 6ft 1in, the woman they call ‘The Irish Lever’ was undoubtedly the tallest in her 41-boat fleet at London 2012, and some British yachting pundits were quick to put down her early regatta wins purely to her larger frame.
But Murphy – who headed to the Olympics with confidence after a podium finish at the Skandia Sail for Gold, and a medal at Weymouth the previous year – proved that her success was no fluke, holding the gold medal position for almost half the regatta and entering the last race in third place overall.
Facing unbelievable pressure as the regatta reached its final stages on the Nothe course in Weymouth, in tricky conditions that would spread wide the times of most club racers, it’s to Murphy’s estimable credit that she was able to keep so tight with the front-runners, and it was only in the last few seconds – and last few metres – that she was knocked out of the bronze position.
We’ll never forget the tears she shed after the medal race’s conclusion – the whole of Ireland shared in her heartbreak. But we also shared the belief that that was but one setback in a world-class sailing career that’s only just beginning.
Considering the talented and dedicated NYC sailor and UCD student is still only 23, there’s clearly plenty of sailing success awaiting in her future, and she starts 2013 on her ‘Road to Rio’ aiming to clinch a medal at the
2016 Olympic Games.
In spite of losing out on a podium finish at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami earlier this month, the fact that she came so close – and led the charge in the early stages – proves that she can stand proudly with the elite in her class. And she’ll have another chance to prove herself in the next round of the ISAF World Cup in Palma de Mallorca on 30 March.
Annalise is currently training in Cadiz, Spain.
http://afloat.ie/home/item/20926-annalise-murphy-is-irish-sailor-of-the-year
Feb 11, 2013
Toyota Ireland has announced that it has become the new Official Car Sponsor to Cricket Ireland.
The three year deal will see Toyota providing a fleet of vehicles to Cricket Ireland including the Avensis and the Auris, to support the operational and business needs of Cricket Ireland, and to also support the strategic development programme for the sport in Ireland.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Ian Corbett, Marketing Operations Manager for Toyota Ireland said, “We, at Toyota Ireland, are delighted to announce this sponsorship with Cricket Ireland. Cricket Ireland has emerged as a top class professional sporting organisation. Its strategic plan to 2015 is ambitious and focused and we look forward to supporting their efforts to grow and strengthen the game in Ireland.
Our aim is to support cricket at elite level in Ireland’s drive towards qualification to future World Cups but also at grassroots where the cricket development programme is increasing participation in the sport right across Ireland.”
Also commenting Dennis Cousins, Head of Commercial, Cricket Ireland said: “Cricket Ireland are delighted to welcome Toyota on board as our new Official Car Sponsor. Toyota’s national presence and popularity supports our plans to build on the increased levels of interest, participation and coverage of cricket throughout Ireland. We are excited about this new relationship which brings together two organizations who have great heritage in Ireland, and who are both committed to continuous improvement and excellence with equally matched high ambitions. We look forward to working with Toyota into the future on our journey to becoming a Full Member Test Nation.”
The Irish Cricket Team are ranked number 10 in the world in T20 Cricket and recently competed in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in Sept/October 2012. The team are ranked No.11 in 50 over
cricket while the Irish Women’s team are ranked No.10. Ireland is also the top associate cricket nation in the world.
The Irish team will host England in the one day RSA Challenge match in Malahide on 3rd Sept 2013 which will be televised live on Sky Sports. The Irish team will also play a number of other fixtures against test nations next year in addition to World Cup Qualifiers and ICC Inter-Continental Cup Matches.
There are currently over 34,000 actively participating in cricket in Ireland with in the region of 140 Cricket Clubs and over 900 Senior and Junior teams in all of Ireland.
