Ireland has launched an ambitious new International Sports Diplomacy Strategy designed to harness the global power of sport to strengthen diplomatic ties, deepen diaspora connections, and drive economic growth.
The strategy, developed by a cross-departmental Steering Group and shaped by extensive consultation at home and abroad, sets out a coordinated “Team Ireland” approach to positioning sport at the heart of Ireland’s international engagement over the coming years.
At its core are four goals: promoting Ireland as a sporting nation; using sport — including Gaelic Games — to strengthen diaspora connections; supporting international sporting partnerships aligned with Ireland’s values; and maximising the economic value of major sporting events.
Most importantly it is broken down into 68 specific commitments, each with a lead Department or body with responsibility for delivering.
Read More: Ministerial Comment and Yesterday’s Launch event
A Whole-of-Government Approach
The Strategy was developed with input from Government Departments, State Agencies, sporting bodies, athletes, sports technology businesses, researchers, universities and Ireland’s global sporting diaspora.
An International Sport Diplomacy Conference held in November 2025 brought together domestic stakeholders, while Irish Embassies and Consulates across six continents hosted consultation roundtables with members of the international sporting diaspora — from elite and amateur athletes to administrators, researchers and those working in sport tourism and journalism.
Implementation will now be driven by a newly established International Sports Diplomacy Implementation Group, jointly chaired by Assistant Secretaries from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Communications, Culture and Sport. The Group will coordinate delivery across Government and engage with private sector partners, sporting organisations and diaspora representatives.
The strategy aligns with existing frameworks including the National Sports Policy 2018–2027 and the Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy, ensuring coherence between domestic sports development and international ambitions.
Global Ireland Sports Leaders Initiative
A flagship element of the strategy is the new Global Ireland Sports Leaders initiative — an honorific programme recognising current and former sportspeople as ambassadors for Ireland.
Participation will be limited to six Sports Leaders at any one time, appointed initially for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension. While unpaid, participants’ travel and subsistence costs will be covered.
The Sports Leaders will represent Ireland internationally, raising the country’s profile as a sporting nation, supporting international sporting partnerships and promoting Ireland as a destination for living, learning and enterprise.
Their role will include international travel, building networks on behalf of Ireland and using major sporting platforms to promote Irish values and interests.
The initiative reflects the Government’s view that the story and success of Irish athletes can inspire at home and connect meaningfully with Irish communities abroad.
€1 Million Fund to Drive Delivery
Central to delivering the strategy’s ambitions is the creation of a new International Sports Diplomacy Fund, backed by a commitment of at least €1 million over five years.
The Fund will be jointly managed by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will operate under four guiding principles:
- A targeted approach focused on key countries, regions and events;
- Promotion of Ireland’s values, including greater participation for women, people with disabilities and underserved groups;
- Ensuring value for money and sustainable outcomes;
- Alignment with tourism, trade, business development and international development objectives.
The Fund is due to launch later this year and will support projects that advance Ireland’s diplomatic, economic and development goals through sport.
Leveraging Major Events
The strategy places significant emphasis on maximising the broader impact of hosting and participating in major international sporting events.
Major events are seen not only as sporting occasions but as platforms to build trade relationships, showcase Irish enterprise and research expertise, and deepen diplomatic connections.
A calendar of high-impact sporting events will be developed to anchor public diplomacy campaigns aimed at enhancing Ireland’s reputation as a tourism and sporting destination.
The strategy also promotes an all-island approach to hosting major events, recognising sport’s role in fostering connections across the island and between Ireland and Britain.
Ireland’s co-hosting of UEFA EURO 2028 is highlighted as an opportunity to create a positive legacy and strengthen relationships across these islands, while support will also be provided for the all-island dimension of the T20 Cricket World Cup 2030.
The strategy further commits to exploring future co-hosting opportunities with the UK beyond 2028.
Stronger Engagement with International Bodies
A more strategic approach to engaging with international governing bodies is another key pillar.
Ireland already has strong representation within international sports organisations, but the Government now plans to formalise this through the creation of an International Irish Sports Administrators Network.
The network will bring together Irish officials working in global sporting bodies to share knowledge and identify opportunities for Ireland to influence governance and decision-making.
In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will deploy additional diplomatic resources in Switzerland — home to many international federations — with a specific mandate focused on sports diplomacy.
Sport for Development
The strategy also places sport within Ireland’s broader international development framework, aligning with the policy A Better World.
Ireland will support Sport for Development initiatives, particularly in Africa, with a focus on empowering youth and girls. Sporting programmes will be used to advance inclusion, education, health, gender equality and economic development.
Sport will also play a role in humanitarian assistance, including mental health supports for adults and children in vulnerable communities affected by crisis and conflict. Initiatives for displaced people and persons with disabilities will be supported as part of Ireland’s commitment to sustainable development and peace-building.
Backing a Growing Sports Tech Sector
The new strategy also seeks to position Ireland at the intersection of sport, technology and global business.
The global sports technology market is projected to grow from approximately €29.6 billion in 2025 to €59.3 billion by 2030. Ireland is already home to 93 venture capital-backed sports technology companies, which have collectively raised more than €224 million since 2014.
Enterprise Ireland has emerged as a leading European investor in the sector, recording 19 sports tech investments since 2024.
Ireland’s strengths — including a strong STEM talent pool, over 20 sports science-related degree programmes, academic-industry partnerships and expertise in data analytics and regulatory compliance — position the country to attract further foreign direct investment.
Promotion of the sector will align with IDA Ireland’s Adapt Intelligently strategy and the Action Plan on Market Diversification, with Ministerial-led trade missions and high-impact platforms such as South by Southwest in Austin, Texas identified as key opportunities.
Built on Record Investment in Sport
The International Sports Diplomacy Strategy builds on a period of record Government investment in sport.
Since the adoption of the National Sports Policy in 2018, more than €1 billion has been invested in sports infrastructure and development. Funding for sport has risen to over €300 million in 2026 — a 270% increase on 2018 levels and 28% higher than 2025.
Active sports participation has now surpassed 50%, exceeding the National Sports Policy target.
High-performance funding has also grown significantly, with €27 million allocated in 2025, including €4.5 million in direct athlete support through the carding scheme, as Ireland tracks toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles under the High-Performance Strategy 2021–2032.
A Coordinated Vision
Taken together, the new International Sports Diplomacy Strategy represents a coordinated effort to ensure that Ireland’s growing sporting strength translates into diplomatic influence, economic opportunity and social impact.
By combining domestic investment in participation and performance with an outward-looking international framework, the Government aims to ensure that sport continues to connect Ireland with the world — and the world with Ireland — in ways that extend well beyond the field of play.
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