11,239 athletes from an estimated world population of 7.4 billion are now finally immersed in the 311 events that make up the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. That’s a pretty tiny proportion of those of us that exist on this little rock orbiting the sun.
In fact it’s only 0.0001% who will ever earn the right to represent their country at an Olympic Games.
Research published by Electric Ireland, sponsors of Team Ireland and supporters of our own coverage of the commercial side of the Games, has found though that only a small minority of Irish people are aware of just how difficult it is to be part of that club.
More men (16%) than women (11%) claim to be aware of how difficult it is to become an Olympian.
Yet men place a higher value on winning medals as only 66% of them, compared to 82% of women, would classify Ireland’s Olympians as heroes if they perform at their best regardless of whether they win a medal.
Electric Ireland through The Power Within campaign, have been championing not just the talent and dedication of the individual athletes that make up Team Ireland but also the resilience and self-belief required by Ireland’s Olympians to realise their dream of competing at an Olympic Games.
Irish adults (65%) feel that Irish Olympians possess un-wavering self-belief in themselves that they can be competitive against the best in the world. 18-24 years olds are the age group most likely to be inspired to attain their personal ambitions by the achievements of our Olympians with 44% of them agreeing that our Olympians inspire them to push themselves harder.
Most Irish people (83%) do however agree that it is the heart, passion and leaving nothing behind on the sport’s field that make us proudest of our Olympic athletes.
Electric Ireland are hoping that that the achievements of our Team Ireland athletes over the next two weeks will not just unite the country but inspire both them and us to unlock The Power Within.
Who knows where the magic will emerge. All we can hope is that it lives up to the standard of indelible memory making that the Olympics has always delivered in the past.
Sport for Business’ Coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games is supported by Team Ireland Official Partner Electric Ireland #ThePowerWithin
Image Credit: Morgan Treacy Inpho.ie
