Athletics Ireland has confirmed that its relationship with Irish Life Health, which was due to finish at the end of 2021, has been extended into 2022 to include the upcoming track and field season.
This will include the 150th staging of the Senior National Track and Field Championships in June.
Irish Life has been a partner of Athletics Ireland since 2014 but will now transition its commercial partnership with running into the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series.
Details relating to a new partnership that will take up the baton from them in regard to the wider sponsorship, and continue to deliver towards Athletics Ireland’s ambitious plans for the development and success of athletics in Ireland, will be announced later this year.
In that sense, this is as good a closing of one chapter as any sport could wish for.
Irish Life Health has been a key driver in promoting athletics across the country through a range of programmes and initiatives at a local and national level. Last month 6,500 participants took part in the ‘Runuary’ promotion aimed at encouraging healthy habits
“Athletics Ireland would like to express our thanks to all of the team in Irish Life Health for their support and commitment to Irish athletics over the last number of years. I would particularly like to express my thanks for their wholehearted support during COVID-19 lockdowns which was a tough time for all sports,” said Athletics Ireland CEO Hamish Adams.
“We look forward to working with Irish Life Health over the coming months as we return to our full competition schedule which will be highlighted by a historic 150th edition of our National Senior Track and Field Championships on June 25th and 26th 2022.”
“We will always be very proud of our association with Athletics Ireland and what we achieved together and we’re happy that our partnership has been extended up to October,” added Liz Rowen, Irish Life Health Marketing Manager.
“We have a great long-term relationship with everyone in Athletics Ireland, and we hope to continue to work together in some way into the future. We remain committed to helping people live healthier lives and build better futures.”
Irish Life has also stepped up its partnership with the GAA’s Healthy Clubs initiative and we will be talking with them about their approach to sport and sponsorship in the near future.
