Tokyo gold medallist, Kellie Harrington, and London Olympic champion, Katie Taylor, have been voted among Ireland’s top 3 most admired sports stars, alongside jockey, Rachel Blackmore.
That’s according to Teneo’s Sport and Sponsorship Index for 2021.
Kellie Harrington, who climbed to the top of the podium in Tokyo, having done likewise during qualification in Paris, won 16% of the public vote.
She tied with London Olympic champion, and 20-0 lightweight champ, Katie Taylor, in the public poll.
Both boxers were winners this year of the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month accolades, and both were nominated for the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Rachel Blackmore, who won the Aintree Grand National this year, and was also champion jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, gained 9% of the vote in the Teneo poll. She won the Irish Times and RTE accolades.
Kellie Harrington’s gold medal in Tokyo was voted top Irish Sporting Achievement of the past year, with 20% of 1,000 people surveyed selecting the Portland Row boxer’s moment of glory as number one
Applications for membership to the 2021-2024 Olympic Federation of Ireland Athletes’ Commission are being sought.
Olympians from any of the last four Olympic cycles, winter, or summer, can apply for a position on the commission, in the role that runs through to 2024.
To be eligible for election, the successful candidates must complete the form, which can be downloaded here and submit it to heather@olympicsport.ie by midnight on the 22 December 2021. Applicants will require signatures from either their National Federation or from three Olympians in order to be submitted. In their application they will outline their main reasons for running and their objectives for the coming cycle.
Applications are being sought for membership to the 2021-2024 OFI Athletes' Commission!
Who can apply? ☘️#TeamIreland Olympians since 2006 ❄️Winter 🌞or Summer! 💡Enthusiastic and driven 🗣️ Passionate about the athlete voice
The current Athletes’ Commission was established in June 2017, with the aim of ensuring that the athlete’s voice is heard across all levels of Olympic sport in Ireland. Their strategy outlines a vision for Ireland to be the best country in the world to be an Olympian or aspiring Olympic athlete.
Since 2017, and through ongoing communication with athletes on relevant discussions, the OFI Athletes’ Commission has made strides in this area, with athlete representation on key decision making groups across Irish sport. It has also increased its visibility and voice on a global scale, and spearheaded campaigns such as the Don’t Scroll By campaign against online hate speech. The Athletes’ Commission actively engaged with athletes around pressing issues such as the IOC Rule 50.2 on public demonstrations, as well as clean sport, where they also worked with the National Anti-Doping Authority, Sport Ireland.
The IABA welcomes the allocation to it of €510,000 by Sport Ireland in Covid Grant Scheme funding.
The monies are part of a pan-NGB package of grants and supports, worth almost €80 million.
Nationally, €73.6m in Covid funding is being allocated under five separate streams to help sports organisations to recover and grow post pandemic, support our grassroots network of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.
A further €5.3m is being provided to sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for the provision of sports equipment including the roll out of defibrillators for clubs, kits for school children and state of the art equipment for our high-performance athletes.
IABA Allocation
€60,000 under Scheme Two – NGB Resilience Fund. Sport Ireland says this fund may “cover the loss of income from events, ticket sales, sponsorship, affiliation & membership fees, courses, services and the additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols. It is acknowledged that indoor sports and Governing Bodies who are more reliant on commercial activity and have more diverse streams of income will require greater support.”
€400,000 under Scheme Three – Club Resilience Fund. Sport Ireland notes “A large number of the challenges faced by Governing Bodies are replicated across their Club network with income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services all reduced. The additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols has also had a significant impact on Club activities where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is common place. In addition, there are a number of Governing Bodies whose network of Clubs consist of commercial organisations operating out of dedicated facilities with full time staff and strong annual turnovers. Such organisations are more reliant on membership, competition and coaching revenues as well as income from ancillary sporting and non-sporting commercial activity. Sport Ireland will not fund Clubs, Affiliates, Provinces or Branches directly and funding will be accessed through programmes established by the Governing Body.
€50,000 under Scheme Five – Resumption of Sport & Physical Activity. Sport Ireland says this is a “Restart Fund to support the return of sport and physical activity…The Scheme seeks to support a number of key focus areas
A Disability Sport Fund
Older Adults Support
Third Level Education Support
NGB Grassroots & Indoor Sport Support
LSP Small Grant Scheme
LSP Grassroots Sport Support
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “As a nation so fond of sports, we are very supportive of our clubs, our competitors and of course everyone who enjoys physical activity. But the last two years have been two of the most challenging for all sports organisations and the announcement of this funding will come as a relief for the sports sector. It’s important that the sport sector is on a firm financial footing. The additional funding, coupled with the increase in the budget for sport in 2022, will ensure the long-term viability of our sports organisations, high performance sport and will make sure sport remains accessible to all. These emergency funds will reach all corners of the country, a myriad of activities and ensure clubs and grassroots groups continue their great work.”
Minister @cathmartingreen & @jackfchambers together with Sport Ireland, have announced almost €80m for the sport sector under two separate support programmes.
Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs Jack Chambers TD, added: “I welcome today’s allocations announced by Sport Ireland, which recognise the immense contribution that sport and physical activity has made to Ireland’s response to the pandemic. All facets of society continue to adjust as the public health situation evolves and our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnership and sports clubs are to be commended on how they have adapted. Government understands that this has been challenging for all and the funding allocated today will assist the sector as it continues to play an important role in supporting all members of society getting and staying active.”
Ulster Elite Finalist, Stephen Mc Mullen, remains in the thoughts of the IABA and every member of Ireland’s Boxing family.
Stephen, of Newington ABC-Patsy Quinn Boxing Gym, contested the Ulster Elite Heavyweight final in Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast, on Thursday evening, December 9th.
Stephen didn’t require medical attention during his bout, and, with his coaches, left Girdwood Community Hub after the Ulster Elite Finals.
Unfortunately, Stephen fell ill at home, and was admitted to the Royal Victory Hospital on Friday, December 10th.
IABA understands that he is in a serious, but stable, condition.
Ulster Boxing Council is in on-going contact with Stephen’s family. IABA and the Ulster Boxing Council will continue to provide support to Stephen, his family and his club during this period.
