Swim Ireland has announced a new Athletes’ Commission for Swimming, Para Swimming and Diving. The Commission was originally appointed in 2022 with the first in-person meeting taking place last month.
London 2012 Olympian Gráinne Murphy and Rio 2016 Olympian Nicholas Quinn will co-chair the committee with seven additional members representing the disciplines including Adrianna Kazimierczak (Swimming), Cadan McCarthy (Swimming), Calum Bain (Swimming), Clare Cryan (Diving), David Thompson (Swimming), Erin Riordan (Swimming) and Patrick Flanagan (Para Swimming).
A Commission for Water Polo athletes will follow later this year.
The role of the Athletes’ Commission is to act as a consultative body of Swim Ireland and as a voice for Irish athletes within these aquatic disciplines.
The commission will ensure that strong channels of communication are in place for athlete-specific issues at the appropriate level and that the athletes’ views are heard and considered in Swim Ireland’s decision-making.
The Commission will also ensure respect for the rights and well-being of the Athletes and to draw up recommendations to that effect as required.
“I am delighted to co-chair the commission with Nick Quinn, a new venture for Swim Ireland which I am thrilled to be part of,” said Gráinne Murphy.
“The voice of the athlete is important, and I am looking forward to giving the members of Swim Ireland the platform and opportunity to have their voice heard.”
“The Athletes’ Commission is an exciting new venture for Swim Ireland, and we’ll work hard to listen to our athletes and ensure their views and opinions are heard over the next two years,” added Quinn.
“On a personal level, I’m delighted to co-chair the Commission and I’m excited to get to work representing our Swimmers, Divers and Para Swimmers.’
“We are delighted to have established our Athlete’s Commission and to have an effective voice for our swimmers, para swimmers and divers in Ireland,” added Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane.
“It is important that our athletes have a say and we look forward to working with them in the coming months and years to help ensure that we have happy, healthy, supported athletes across our disciplines.”
Sport for Business Perspective:
The voice of the athletes can often be overlooked, falling between their own single-minded focus and sporting administrators working for them but having to contend with in a more complex set of variables. Having player and athlete representatives at the table helps to bridge the gap and is to be applauded.
