Sport Ireland publishes high-performance system review for Paris Cycle
Sport Ireland has published its high-performance system review (Paris Cycle Review), which found that Ireland’s high-performance sports system has evolved, matured, and professionalised.
Covering the years 2021-2024, the Paris Cycle Review aims to ensure that the high-performance system is well-positioned to maximise the potential of Irish sport in future Olympic and Paralympic cycles. To that end it also outlines key recommendations for further development.
Fuelled by increasing levels of investment, and the vision of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy (2021-2032), the high-performance system has performed strongly in recent years, with Ireland winning over 500 major medals since 2017.
The medal objectives for 2021-2024 that were set out in the High Performance Strategy and National Sports Policy 2018-2027 have been achieved. This period includes the 2024 Paris Games, Ireland’s most successful ever Games, with 5-7 medals targeted and seven achieved.
Dr Úna May, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, said: “There have been ongoing commitments and efforts to create positive, impactful experiences for all athletes within the system. We’re very much aware of the importance of athlete welfare and putting athletes at the centre of everything we do. By doing that we are not only looking after them, but giving them the best possible chance of achieving excellence in their sport.
“This increased maturity of the system and strong recovery following the pandemic is due, in part, to the government’s sustained commitments and investments to Irish high-performance sport, as well as the brilliant system-wide support provided by the Sport Ireland High Performance Unit and the Sport Ireland Institute.”
In 2024, Sport Ireland investment in high-performance sport was a record €25m. This unprecedented level of investment has followed a period of sustained growth in funding for sport, with overall funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) up 60% since 2018.
Previous reviews have always incorporated both a Games and system component, but this is the first system-only review undertaken by Sport Ireland.
The Quadrennial Review is different in 2024, with Sport Ireland focusing on the overall system and the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland undertaking specific Games reviews. This reflects the improved levels of collaboration within the system. The benefits of this collaboration include the timeliness of the review and enhanced engagement with NGBs and athletes. The level of response from athletes to the review is notable and has been invaluable.
Paul McDermott, Sport Ireland Director of High Performance and NGBs, said: “We would like to thank all of those who have contributed to the Paris Cycle Review. In particular, we would like to thank the athletes; over 185 athletes engaged in the process. As reflected in the development of our High Performance Strategy, we place a real priority on capturing the athlete voice at critical points of the system’s development.”
Using the seven pillars of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy (2021-2032) as a guiding framework, feedback, insights and opinion were received from the NGBs in receipt of High Performance Programme Funding.
This review also identified challenges facing NGBs and the system, as well as opportunities to evolve and transform Irish high-performance sport in future cycles.
The implementation of the identified recommendations will form a key piece of work for Sport Ireland, as we get ready to enter the Los Angeles and Brisbane Cycles.
Collaboration between Sport Ireland, NGBs, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland, the Sport Ireland Institute, the Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, will be crucial to ensure these recommendations are actioned, and to ensure the system is transitioning towards its shared goals.