A special allocation of €1 million in funding for boxing clubs to upgrade training facilities for young boxers, particularly women has been announced by Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring.
This allocation builds on the previous 2011 boxing allocation and will be used to improve boxing facilities. The allocation will be administered by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.
“This further allocation recognises that many boxing clubs continue to operate in facilities which are in poor condition and lack basic facilities. It’s another important step in helping to ensure that young people who join boxing clubs can train in decent, fit-for-purpose facilities,” Minister Ring said.
“Eligible clubs will be able to make improvements to facilities like dressing rooms, showers, toilets and heating. There will be a particular focus on providing facilities for women boxers.”
“Under the 2011 initiative more than 50 clubs received funding from an allocation of €1.25 million from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport through the IABA with a maximum grant of €25,000 per club.”
It was only months before the London 2012 Olympic Games that Katie Taylor’s Bray Boxing Club was able to instal a women’s toilet, partly with Government funding and partly through private sponsorship from Mallons Sausages.
The focus on Women’s Boxing is certainly to be applauded and comes only a few years after no team was funded to attend the European Championships.
If we are to produce more Olympic medallists in the sport, and it has provided a rich vein of Gold, Silver and Bronze, then funding like that announced yesterday is essential.
Boxing at European and World level is changing at a rapid pace and some within the sport would welcome a greater presence of boxers and coaches on the Board of the governing body, as is the case in the United States where one man and one woman boxer represent those who step into the ring at the highest level of the sports administration.
This video produced by the Irish Sports Council shows the work that goes in behind the scenes at Bray Boxing Club to produce Champions like Katie Taylor.
Read more of our recent coverage and analysis of Boxing here.
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Boxing Receives €1 Million Boost
