On Wednesday, the Olympic Federation of Ireland announced the Team Ireland Athlete Support Initiative, backed by private sponsor Flogas. This program aims to provide additional support to athletes in areas such as education, access to coaching and specific training opportunities. Flogas has committed an initial budget of €60,000 to fund this support, available to Olympic athletes and those on an Olympic pathway until January 31, 2025.
The Flogas partnership not only ensures financial resources, but also structural support to enable athletes to develop outside the sporting arena. This includes the allocation of individual grants of up to 3,000 euros, which can be used in three key pillars: education, mentoring and public communication skills.
THE IMPACT OF PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP ON EDUCATION
One of the main focuses of Team Ireland’s initiative is education, offering scholarships to enable athletes to continue their professional or academic training. These scholarships are designed both for those who are still competing and for those who are in the process of transitioning out of sport. The Sport Ireland Institute Life Skills team leads this component, providing expert guidance in course selection and career planning.
Globally, private sponsorship has proved essential in similar projects. For example, in Japan, companies such as Toyota have funded athlete development programs, helping them to build careers in engineering or marketing after their retirements. Similarly, the Canadian Olympic Committee has developed initiatives backed by RBC, offering athletes tools for entrepreneurship.
COACHING FOR THEIR FUTURE
Another key pillar of this initiative is mentoring and life coaching programs. Athletes will be able to access professional mentors from outside the sports system for one-on-one guidance. These sessions are designed to address the personal and professional challenges athletes face during their post-competitive transition. Additionally, public speaking and presentation courses, taught by professionals such as Chris Cooke OLY, are offered to strengthen their communication skills.
This multidisciplinary approach is also seen in countries such as Australia, where Qantas sponsorship has enabled the Australian Olympic Committee to offer similar workshops, combining professional training with practical skills for the job market.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE LEGACY OF ATHLETES
John Rooney, CEO of Flogas, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “We know how crucial it is for athletes to prepare for the next stage of their lives, and we are delighted to be part of this legacy.” Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, underlined the positive impact of the program on the sporting community: “We are grateful to Flogas for their support, which allows us to build on the excellent work already being done by the Sport Ireland Institute Life Skills team.
Private sponsorship, such as that of Flogas, not only provides financial resources, but also promotes programs that reinforce the integral development of athletes. Initiatives like this are an example of how National Olympic Committees can partner with companies to make a lasting impact on the lives of athletes. Beyond getting money to prepare for a competition or an Olympic Games, this initiative prepares them for their most important championship: life after they are no longer elite athletes.
