- Ireland’s largest-ever team to compete at Olympic Games
- Team Ireland backed by major State funding of €89m for Paris Cycle
- State funding represents substantial increase on Tokyo Cycle
Minister for Tourism, Cultures, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, extended their best wishes to the members of Team Ireland as they prepare to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris over the next two weeks. With some 133 athletes travelling, this will be Ireland’s largest ever team competing at an Olympic Games.
This year marks the highest ever level of investment into High Performance Sport in Ireland, with €25m being provided. There has also been a substantial increase on the €59 million invested in the Tokyo cycle, with more than €89 million invested from 2021 to 2024, reflecting the government’s commitment to delivering long-term sustained progress in sport.
The Ministers were speaking ahead of travelling to Paris to represent the Irish Government at the Games. The official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games takes place on Friday evening.
Minister Martin said:
“I would like to extend my best wishes to the Irish team for the Paris Olympic Games. The government’s unwavering commitment to supporting high-performance sports is evident through our significant and sustained investments and comprehensive policy framework. I would like to congratulate all of our athletes who have qualified for the games, which is an achievement in itself. I know that they, and their coaches and families, have put enormous work and effort into getting this far, and I am sure they will do us proud over the coming weeks.”
Minister Byrne said:
“This is the largest-ever Irish team to compete at an Olympics Games, which is a testament to the incredible work that Irish athletes and sporting organisations are putting in right across the country. We are already seeing so many positive outcomes from the strong support, financial and otherwise, which the State has provided Team Ireland with. I know that Irish people, at home and abroad, are really looking forward to cheering on Team Ireland at the Paris games. Based on recent performances, I believe we have some fantastic medal winning prospects across a number of sports, and I look forward to what promises to be a wonderful few weeks in Paris.”
Guíonn na hAirí Martin agus Byrne Gach Rath
ar Lúthchleasaithe Oilimpeacha na hÉireann i bPáras
- An fhoireann Éireannach is mó riamh ag dul san iomaíocht
sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha - Tacaíonn maoiniú mór Stáit €89m le foireann na hÉrieann
do Chiogal Pháras - Méadú suntasach i maoiniú Stáit ó chiogal Thóiceo
Ghuígh an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, Catherine Martin TD, agus an tAire Stáit don Spórt agus don Ghaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, gach rath ar na baill d’fhoireann na hÉireann agus iad ag ullmhú chun dul san iomaíocht sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha i bPáras sa choicís atá romhainn. Le 133 lúthchleasaí ag taisteal, is í seo an fhoireann is mó riamh in Éirinn atá san iomaíocht sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha.
An bhliain seo infheistíodh an leibhéal maoinithe ab airde riamh sa Spórt Ardfheidhmíochta in Éirinn, le €25m á sholáthar. Bhí méadú suntasach freisin ar an €59 milliún a infheistíodh i gciogal Thóiceo, agus breis agus €89 milliún infheistithe ó 2021 go 2024, rud a léiríonn tiomantas an rialtais dul chun cinn fadtéarmach marthanach a sheachadadh sa spórt.
Bhí na hAirí ag labhairt sular thaisteal siad go Páras chun ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar Rialtas na hÉireann ag na Cluichí. Beidh searmanas oscailte oifigiúil na gCluichí Oilimpeacha ar siúl tráthnóna Dé hAoine.
Dúirt an tAire Martin:
“Guímh gach rath ar fhoireann na hÉireann sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha i bPáras. Tá tiomantas seasmhach an rialtais soiléir do thacú le spórt ardfheidhmíochta trínár n-infheistíochtaí suntasacha agus marthanacha agus lenár gcreat cuimsitheach beartais. Déanaim comhghairdeas lenár lúthchleasaithe ar fad a cháiligh do na cluichí, rud is éacht ann féin. Tá a fhios agam go ndearna siad féin, a gcuid cóitseálaithe agus teaghlaigh obair na gcapall chun dul chomh fada seo leo, agus táim cinnte go gcuirfidh siad bród orainn sna seachtainí atá romhainn.”
Dúirt an tAire Byrne:
“Is í seo an fhoireann Éireannach is mó riamh ag dul san iomaíocht sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha, rud a léiríonn an obair dhochreidte atá á déanamh ag lúthchleasaithe agus eagraíochtaí spórt na hÉireann ar fud na tíre. Tá an oiread sin torthaí dearfacha le feiceáil againn cheana féin ón tacaíocht láidir, airgeadais agus eile, a chuir an Stát ar fáil d’Fhoireann na hÉireann. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil Éireannaigh, sa bhaile agus i gcéin, ag súil go mór le tacaíocht a thabhairt d’Fhoireann na hÉireann sna cluichí i bPáras. Ag féachaint ar léirithe le déanaí, creidim go bhfuil féidearthachtaí iontacha againn maidir le boinn a bhuachan thar réimse spórt, agus táim ag tnúth le cúpla seachtain iontach i bPáras.”