SPAR and EUROSPAR have announced their sponsorship of the Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps, extending their partnership with Team Ireland into a grassroots setting that will give young people the chance to experience sport in a high-performance environment.
Taking place at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin 15, the camps cater for children of all ages, standards and levels of interest, offering the opportunity to try a wide range of sports at the home of Irish sport.
The sponsorship forms part of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s wider commitment to supporting sport from the community level through to the Olympic and Paralympic stage.
Children attending the camps will also have the chance to meet and learn from leading Irish athletes, including SPAR EUROSPAR Team Ireland ambassadors Kate O’Connor, silver medallist at the World Athletics Championships, and Olympic gold medallist rower Fintan McCarthy.
The involvement of the two athletes is designed to help inspire young participants and underline the importance of sport and physical activity from an early age.
“Supporting the Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps is a natural extension of our Team Ireland partnership,” said Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director.
“It allows us to bring that sponsorship to life at the grassroots level, helping families and encouraging children to get active and experience sport in a world-class environment.”
Peter Dwan, EUROSPAR Sales Director, said the initiative reflected how the retailer’s partnership with Team Ireland was continuing to develop.
“This is a strong example of how our partnership with Team Ireland continues to evolve beyond elite competition,” he said.
“As retailers rooted in local communities, we see initiatives like this as an important way to support the next generation while reinforcing our long-term commitment to Irish sport.”
The Sport Ireland Campus has become an increasingly important hub for participation, performance and community activity, with the Kids Camps providing a direct link between young people and the facilities used by many of Ireland’s top athletes.
“The Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps play an important role in encouraging children of all abilities to get active and discover a variety of sports in a world-class environment,” said Dr Una May, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Ireland.
“Through our partnership with SPAR and EUROSPAR and Team Ireland, young participants have the unique opportunity to experience the home of Irish sport and be inspired by Team Ireland athletes along the way.”
The Olympic Federation of Ireland will also be involved in the initiative through its Team Ireland partnership with SPAR and EUROSPAR.
“We are delighted to be involved in the Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps along with our sponsor SPAR EUROSPAR,” said Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
“Initiatives like this not only encourage children to get active and try new sports, but also help to inspire confidence, ambition and a lifelong connection to physical activity.
“By giving young people the chance to engage with sport in such a high-quality environment and meet Team Ireland athletes, we hope it will spark dreams and perhaps even inspire the next generation of Irish Olympians.”
The announcement follows SPAR and EUROSPAR’s Hungry For Success campaign and their Official Retail Partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland.
That partnership was expanded earlier this year with the launch of the SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund, designed to support local clubs, provide facilities, and nurture future talent across communities in Ireland.
SPAR and EUROSPAR also have a wider heritage in sport, including sponsorship of the European Athletics Championships since 1996, support for more than 80 competitions, and a long-running focus on promoting healthy living through sport and balanced nutrition.
The retailers have been part of Irish community life since the first SPAR store opened in 1963, with sport forming a key part of their investment in local causes, clubs and community programmes.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Sport Ireland Campus are full members of Sport for Business.
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