With impeccable timing, given the Olympics success, Swim Ireland and the University of Limerick have announced a four-year renewal of their strategic partnership.
The agreement secures the future of the high-performance National Centre at the University of Limerick’s UL Sport Arena through 2028, with Sport Ireland also supporting the project in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The agreement highlights UL, Swim Ireland, and Sport Ireland’s commitment to promoting high-performance swimming and supporting elite athletes on their journey to Olympic and Paralympic success, as well as other major international swimming events en route at World and European levels.
Notably, this National Centre has been a crucial training ground for Ireland’s Paralympic swimmer and World Record holder Róisín Ní Riain, European Junior Champion John Shortt, Commonwealth Youth Games Champion Ellie McCartney and the captain of the 2024 Canadian Olympic Swim Team, Jeremy Bagshaw.
The partnership has been in place since 2000 and continues to provide best-in-class coaching, facilities and support, led by Head Coach John Szaranek and his coaching team of Carlo Boni and Jade Murphy.
UL Sport boasts international-standard facilities, including a national 50-metre swimming pool, a multipurpose sports arena, 3G pitches designed to GAA, FIFA, and IRB specifications, Ireland’s only indoor powered rowing tank, and many other advanced training amenities.
These serve to enhance athletic performance and foster a dynamic and long-associated sports culture for students and the community.
“This National Centre is managed in partnership with UL Sport and Sport Ireland and is uniquely positioned to offer a one-stop-shop experience that includes all the requirements of a high-performance athlete alongside a world-class university education, all delivered within a highly supportive and understanding environment,” said Dr Jon Rudd, Swim Ireland National Performance Director.
“Many of our potential athletes for the LA Olympic or Paralympic Games in four years’ time are either already based here full-time or use the Centre part-time while still in secondary school.”
“To sign a robust and fully functional agreement with UL Sport through to 2028 is a massive boost for us all, and this could not have been achieved without Sport Ireland’s support throughout the process. The future is bright for Irish swimming, and the National Centre here at UL is a huge part of that.”
“With the Paris Olympics now upon us, we are really excited to continue our collaboration with Swim Ireland at the high-performance Centre here at the University of Limerick,” added Brian King, Director of UL Sport.
“Swim Ireland has been a key strategic partner for the last 20 years, and we are delighted to confirm the continuation of this relationship up until the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.”
Sport for Business will host its inaugural Children and Sport Conference in Dublin on Thursday, September 19th, with the support of Allianz Ireland and Sport Ireland. This is one of many events planned for the remainder of 2024.
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