As the sport prepares to have two representatives at the Rio Olympic Games for the first time, Gymnastics Ireland is looking to a bright future with the publication of a Strategic Plan running through to 2020.

Central to the Plan and the continued momentum behind the sport will be the completion of the National Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus.

Described as “the final piece of the jigsaw for Gymnastics Ireland”, the Arena will house a national training centre and also provide a high profile and superbly equipped venue for hosting national as well as international events.

The number of registered and direct fee paying members has climbed 20 per cent to 18,000 in the past year, enabling the sports governing body to self fund 75 per cent of its activities with the balance coming from Sport Ireland Government funding and sponsorship.

Financially the sport is on a solid footing with annual turnover in 2015 of €1.3 Million, up €400,000 on the previous year.  It has a compelling business case for making the most of the new Indoor Arena as well and will be one of the strongest sports to benefit.

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One of the key targets in the Plan to 2020 is the recognition of Dublin as a major venue for hosting International events, an ambition which will itself give rise to more income and further growth.

‘I am very excited about the opportunities that are available within the next Olympic cycle for Gymnastics Ireland.,” said Gymnastics Ireland CEO Ciaran Gallagher.

“A huge amount has been achieved through the successful implementation of the last two strategic plans, and with the completion of our new home at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin due at the end 2016 the last piece of the jigsaw is falling into place for us.”

“This plan will see us step up to the next level as we move past Rio 2016 towards Tokyo 2020 by which time we want to have established an identity of our sport as an Irish sport within the consciousness of the Irish public while gaining recognition as a key player within the international gymnastics community.”

The Plan is well put together, focusing on five key strategic areas, five key programmes to grow the sport and the building blocks of 27 initiatives over the next four years to ensure a strong future.

You can download the full report here.